Imara Presents Positive Interim Results from Phase 2a Study of IMR-687 in Sickle Cell Disease at the Virtual European Hematology Association Annual Congress

Showed statistically significant increase in red blood cells containing fetal hemoglobin (F-cells) and dose-dependent increase in fetal hemoglobin percentage in high-dose group after 24 weeks of monotherapy

IMR-687 was well tolerated as a monotherapy and in combination with hydroxyurea

BOSTON, June 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imara Inc. (Nasdaq: IMRA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel therapeutics to treat patients suffering from rare inherited genetic disorders of hemoglobin, today presented interim results from its ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial of IMR-687 in adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) at the 25th European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Congress.

The data from this ongoing study demonstrated that IMR-687, an oral, once-a-day, potentially disease modifying treatment, was safe and well tolerated as a monotherapy and in combination with hydroxyurea (HU). In the higher dose cohort, IMR-687 monotherapy showed a statistically significant (p =0.022) increase in the number of F-cells, which are red blood cells containing fetal hemoglobin (HbF), as well as a dose-dependent increase in HbF levels in adult patients with SCD.

“These second interim data presented at EHA help reinforce the potential of IMR-687 as a novel, potentially disease modifying approach in the treatment of rare blood disorders, including sickle cell disease,” said Rahul Ballal, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Imara. “We know increasing fetal hemoglobin correlates with improved clinical outcomes, and these promising Phase 2a data, which include early trends in reducing painful vaso-occlusive crises, continue to give us confidence that IMR-687 could have a meaningful impact in treating sickle cell disease. We also believe the once-a-day oral format of IMR-687 could be advantageous as we address the global prevalence of sickle cell disease.”

“Based on these results and following a Type B meeting with the FDA in January, Imara is initiating a Phase 2b clinical trial in adult patients with sickle cell disease to test higher doses of IMR-687 for up to a one-year duration of therapy. We anticipate this increased exposure and duration may result in further increases in HbF and, in turn, result in improved clinical outcomes for patients,” commented Dr. Ballal.