 Initiated Phase 2b clinical trials of IMR-687 in sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia; First patient dosed in Ardent Phase 2b sickle cell clinical trialReported Phase 2a interim safety and efficacy data at the European Hematology Association Annual Congress and promising clinical outcomes in an Open Label Extension Study that tests IMR-687 for longer durationIMR-687 granted Orphan Drug, Fast Track and Rare Pediatric designations by the FDA for beta-thalassemia Company to host conference call and live webcast today at 8:30 a.m. ETBOSTON, Aug. 14, 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 reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 and reviewed recent business highlights.As we head into the second half of 2020, we are encouraged by several advancements across our programs that bring us closer to providing oral treatment options to patients with rare blood disorders, said Rahul Ballal, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Imara. We initiated our Phase 2b clinical trials for IMR-687 in both sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia and dosed the first patient in our Ardent Phase 2b clinical trial for adult patients with sickle cell disease. We also reported encouraging Phase 2a interim clinical trial results with IMR-687 at the European Hematology Association Annual Congress and more recently observed promising clinical outcomes with longer duration IMR-687 treatment as part of our Phase 2a open label extension trial. In addition, we made important progress on the regulatory front as we were granted Orphan Drug, Fast Track and Rare Pediatric designations by the FDA for the treatment of patients with beta-thalassemia. Finally, we are leveraging IMR-687s differentiated mechanism of action and began preclinical studies to explore its potential for the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF.Dr. Ballal continued, We look forward to further advancing patient recruitment activities for our Phase 2b clinical trials and expect to report top-line data from our ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial in sickle cell disease during the fourth quarter of 2020. Recent Corporate Highlights and Updates Presented Clinical Data from Phase 2a and Phase 2a Open Label Extension Clinical Trials: Imara presented interim Phase 2a clinical trial results for IMR-687 in adult patients with sickle cell disease SCD at the virtual 25th European Hematology Association EHA Annual Congress in June 2020. The data from this ongoing clinical trial demonstrated that IMR-687 was 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. In addition, two adult patients with SCD have passed six-months of treatment in the Companys ongoing Phase 2a open label extension OLE clinical trial one at six months and one at twelve months. A review of outcomes for these two patients indicate potential benefits of IMR-687 with respect to reported vaso-occlusive crises VOCs trends, healthcare facility use, and SCD associated biomarkers. Enrollment in the OLE has also recently increased as the Phase 2a trial is completing, with six of eight patients entering this four-year safety study since the beginning June 2020. Initiated Clinical Trials: Imara initiated Phase 2b clinical trials of IMR-687 in SCD and adult patients with beta-thalassemia. Patient screening is underway in both trials, and the Company dosed the first patient in its Ardent Phase 2b SCD clinical trial and expects to begin dosing in the beta-thalassemia trial in the near-term. IMR-687 Granted Multiple Regulatory Designations: The FDA granted IMR-687 Orphan, Fast Track and Rare Pediatric Disease designations for the treatment of patients with beta-thalassemia. Established Advisory Board for Clinical Studies in Africa: Imara established a regional advisory board to guide the execution of IMR-687 clinical studies in Africa, which includes key opinion leaders with expertise treating patients and conducting clinical studies in the region. Expanded Pipeline: Imara is conducting preclinical research to evaluate the potential of IMR-687 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction HFpEF, also referred to as diastolic heart failure. Published literature suggests that inhibition of PDE9, and resulting increases in cyclic guanosine monophosphate cyclic GMP through natriuretic peptide modulation, can serve as an attractive target for the prevention and treatment of vascular disease, including HFpEF. Imara has formed an advisory board comprised of key heart failure opinion leaders to further advise on potential development of IMR-687 in this indication. Initiated Real Impact Program and Funded Community Support Grants: Imara announced the grant recipients of its Real Impact community support initiative. This program, which includes grant funding to support nonprofit, community-based organizations serving patients and families impacted by SCD and beta-thalassemia, awarded 25 grants of approximately 5,000 each to community-based organizations in 13 states. The grant funding was increased by 25 from original plans due to the strong demand for COVID-19 related relief programs. Added to Russell 2000 Index: Imara was added as a member of the U.S. small-cap Russell 2000 Index. Russell U.S. Indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for passive funds and investment products and as benchmarks for active investment strategies.Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and investments were 106.3 million as of June 30, 2020, as compared to cash, cash equivalents and investments of 28.9 million as of December 31, 2019. Research and Development Expenses: Research and development expenses were 7.9 million for the second quarter of 2020, as compared to 4.4 million for the second quarter of 2019. The increase of 3.5 million was primarily related to the development and manufacturing of clinical materials, clinical research and oversight of the Companys clinical trials and investigative fees related to the development of IMR-687, as well as increased personnel-related and other research and development operational costs. General and Administrative Expenses: General and administrative expenses were 2.4 million for the second quarter of 2020, as compared to 1.2 million for the second quarter of 2019. The increase of 1.2 million was primarily due to increased personnel-related and other general and administrative operational costs as a result of operating as a public company. Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders: Net loss attributable to common stockholders was 10.2 million, or 0.59 per share, for the second quarter of 2020, as compared to a net loss of 5.4 million, or 7.68 per share, for the second quarter of 2019.Financial GuidanceThe Company currently expects that its full-year 2020 research and development expenses will range between 35 million and 40 million and that its full-year 2020 general and administrative expenses will range between 8 million and 10 million. The Company expects that its cash, cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2020, will be sufficient to enable it to fund its planned operations into mid-2022.Conference Call and Webcast InformationImara will host a conference call and live webcast today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its second quarter 2020 financial results and other business updates.The live webcast will be available under Events and Presentations in the Investors section of the Companys website at imaratx.com. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1 833 519-1307 U.S. domestic or 1 914 800-3873 international and referring to conference ID 9775635. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Imara website following the presentation.About ImaraImara Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel therapeutics to treat patients suffering from rare inherited genetic disorders of hemoglobin. Imara is currently advancing IMR-687, a highly selective, potent small molecule inhibitor of PDE9 that is an oral, once-a-day, potentially disease-modifying treatment for sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. IMR-687 is being designed to have a multimodal mechanism of action that acts on red blood cells, white blood cells, adhesion mediators and other cell types. For more information, please visit Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsStatements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements made by Dr. 