Marea Therapeutics is advancing its pipeline with positive Phase 2a results for MAR001 in cardiovascular disease and the announcement of MAR002 for acromegaly. The company, which launched in June 2024, is focused on developing first-in-class medicines for cardio-endocrine diseases.
MAR001: Targeting Remnant Cholesterol in Cardiovascular Disease
MAR001, a monoclonal antibody targeting angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), showed clinically meaningful reductions in remnant cholesterol and triglycerides in a Phase 2a clinical trial. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 55 participants with hypertriglyceridemia (fasting triglycerides ≥150 and ≤499 mg/dL). Participants were randomized to receive MAR001 at doses of 150 mg, 300 mg, or 450 mg, or placebo, in a 2:1 ratio.
Topline results indicated that MAR001 at 300mg and 450mg demonstrated approximately 50% placebo-corrected remnant cholesterol lowering in the target population. According to Marea, this reduction predicts meaningful clinical benefit for patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease despite standard therapies. The drug was generally well-tolerated, with no deaths, serious adverse events, or discontinuations due to adverse events reported.
"These clinical data, coupled with the remarkable human genetic validation of ANGPTL4, the target for MAR001, establishes MAR001 as one of the most promising candidates advancing into late-stage development for treating residual cardiovascular risk in the patients who remain at highest risk despite aggressive standard of care therapies," said Ethan Weiss, M.D., chief scientific officer of Marea.
Marea plans to present a fuller data set at an upcoming medical meeting and expects to initiate a Phase 2b clinical trial with MAR001 in the first half of 2025.
MAR002: Addressing Acromegaly with a Novel GHR Antagonist
Marea also announced its second lead pipeline program: MAR002, a potential first-in-class anti-growth hormone receptor (GHR) antibody for the treatment of acromegaly. Acromegaly is a rare, life-shortening disease characterized by excessive growth hormone production, leading to insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, and cardiovascular events. Current therapies for acromegaly often result in suboptimal disease control, leaving a significant unmet medical need.
Marea expects to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial with MAR002 in the second half of 2025. There are an estimated 30,000 patients with acromegaly in the U.S.
Corporate Updates
In June 2024, Marea Therapeutics announced $190 million in combined Series A and B financings. The company has also expanded its leadership team with the appointments of Ian Clements, Ph.D., as chief financial officer, Rebecca Juliano, Ph.D., as chief development officer, and Max Zeiberg as senior vice president, corporate development. Robert A. Harrington, M.D., has also joined the Board of Directors.
Marea Therapeutics will present at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on January 15, 2025, in San Francisco.
