Acceleron reports positive study for muscle-loss drugMass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology
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Not long after closing a major second round of venture financing, Acceleron Pharma Inc. reports positive results from a study of its drug candidate to treat muscle loss in patients suffering from muscular dystrophy, cancer and other diseases

The Cambridge-based biotechnology firm reports mice treated with its protein-based drug, ACE-031, showed a 19 percent increase in lean body mass, compared with a 5 percent reduction in body mass in mice in a control experiment with dexamethasone, a treatment for muscular dystrophy. Mice treated with both dexamethasone and Acceleron's drug showed an 11 percent boost in body mass.

Acceleron aims to develop ACE-031 for the treatment of muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and muscle loss caused by cancer, according to the company.

The company reported in August it had raised $30 million in a Series B round of venture capital. The proceeds of that round were expected to be used to advance the development of ACE-011, an agent for the treatment of bone loss that is in Phase 1 clinical trials.
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