Single‐Dose, Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Study of ACE‐011 (ActRIIA‐IgG1) in Postmenopausal Women

The effects of ACE‐011 on safety, pharmacokinetics, and bone biomarkers were evaluated in healthy, postmenopausal women. Our data indicate that ACE‐011 results in a sustained increase in biomarkers of bone formation and reduction in markers of bone resorption. The activin type IIA receptor (ActRIIA) is the high‐affinity receptor for activin. ACE‐011 is a dimeric fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of the human ActRIIA linked to the Fc portion of human IgG1. ACE‐011 binds to activin, preventing activin from binding endogenous receptors. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was conducted to evaluate the safety and tolerability of ACE‐011. Forty‐eight healthy, postmenopausal women were randomized to receive either a single dose of ACE‐011 or placebo and were followed for 4 mo. Dose levels ranged from 0.01 to 3.0 mg/kg intravenously and from 0.03 to 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously. Safety and pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses and the biological activity of ACE‐011, as assessed by markers of bone turnover, and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured. No serious adverse events (AEs) were reported. AEs were generally mild and transient. The PK of ACE‐011 was linear over the dose range studied, with a mean half‐life of 24–32 days. The absorption after subcutaneous dosing was essentially complete. ACE‐011 caused a rapid and sustained dose‐dependent increase in serum levels of bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BSALP) and a dose‐dependent decrease in C‐terminal type 1 collagen telopeptide (CTX) and TRACP‐5b levels. There was also a dose‐dependent decrease in serum FSH levels consistent with inhibition of activin. ACE‐011 is a novel agent with biological evidence of both an increase in bone formation and a decrease in bone resorption. ACE‐011 may be an effective therapy in a variety of diseases involving bone loss.