Marea Therapeutics, a Subsidiary of Lisata Therapeutics, Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 Clinical Trial of MAR002, a Potential Best-in-disease Investigational Therapy for the Treatment of Acromegaly
Earlier Phase 1 findings suggest MAR002 may allow less frequent dosing than the daily injections required by the current standard of care.
Sentiment and the balance of points
Rhea-AI Sentiment reads the wording of the document, how positive or negative its language is on a 1 to 5 scale. The balance of points shown with the takes weighs what the document actually discloses, so the two can disagree, for example when a trial that missed its main goal is described in upbeat language.
Rhea-AI Summary
Lisata Therapeutics (LSTA) subsidiary Marea Therapeutics has dosed the first patient in its Phase 2 trial of MAR002 for acromegaly. MAR002 is an investigational antibody that blocks the growth hormone receptor. The study plans to enroll approximately 72 participants across three MAR002 dose arms, after an initial 900 mg loading dose, compared with placebo. Its primary endpoint is reduction in insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) following 10 weeks of treatment. Eligible participants completing that period may enter an open-label extension trial, where treatment is known to participants and researchers.
Phase 1 results presented in June 2026 showed sustained IGF-1 suppression. Marea said the drug's pharmacokinetic properties—how it moves through the body—may enable dosing as infrequently as once every two weeks, versus daily subcutaneous injections required by the current standard of care.
How this balance works
Rhea-AI gives every point it takes from this document a weight. Minor counts 1, Moderate 3 and Major 9, so one Major point outweighs several Minor ones. The bar adds up the weights on each side, and when neither side holds more than 65% of the total the balance reads Mixed.
It reads the document as published, with the same rules for every company, and it does not look at what the market expected or at how the stock traded, so a point can be objectively good on a day the stock falls.
Rhea-AI Sentiment measures something else, the tone of the wording.
Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works
Positive
- Moderate pointFirst patient dosed advances subsidiary Marea's MAR002 acromegaly program into Phase 2 treatment.
- Minor pointPhase 1 results demonstrated deep and durable IGF-1 suppression.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Potential dosing once every two weeks, Marea said, compares with daily injections required by current standard care.
Negative
- None.
Details
Market move: LSTA -6.12% vs previous close. Phase 2 trial dosing
On Oct 5, the day this news came out, the latest delayed price for LSTA is 6.12% below the previous close. Our momentum scanner has recorded 3 alerts for this stock so far that day. The latest delayed price is $1.38. Relative volume is elevated at 2.8x the average.
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Key Figures
- Planned enrollment
- approximately 72 participants
- Acromegaly study
- Dose arms
- 3
- Compared with placebo
- Loading dose
- 900 mg
- Initial dose
- Primary endpoint timing
- 10 weeks
- IGF-1 reduction following treatment
- Potential dosing interval
- once every two weeks
- Interval that Phase 1 pharmacokinetic properties may enable
Key Terms
igf-1 medical
pharmacokinetic medical
subcutaneous medical
monoclonal antibody medical
growth hormone receptor medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Trial follows promising MAR002 Phase 1 clinical trial results that demonstrated deep and durable IGF-1 suppression with PK properties that may enable dosing as infrequently as once every two weeks, compared to the daily subcutaneous injections required by the current standard of care
By directly blocking growth hormone signaling at the receptor level, MAR002 has the potential to deliver meaningful biochemical control for a broad population of acromegaly patients
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and LIBERTY CORNER, N.J., Oct. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marea Therapeutics, LLC (“Marea”), a subsidiary of Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: LSTA) (“Lisata”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company harnessing the latest advances in human genetics to develop first-in-class, next-generation medicines for cardioendocrine diseases, today announced the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 2 clinical trial of MAR002 for the treatment of acromegaly.
Acromegaly is a rare, chronic, progressive endocrine disorder caused by prolonged exposure to excess growth hormone (GH), most commonly due to a GH-secreting pituitary adenoma, resulting in elevated insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). It leads to the abnormal enlargement of the hands, feet, and facial features, and if left untreated, can result in severe organ damage, systemic complications, and early mortality.
MAR002 is a first-in-class allosteric monoclonal antibody investigational therapy targeting the growth hormone receptor (GHR). Data from a first-in-human Phase 1 study with MAR002 presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society (ENDO) in June 2026 demonstrated compelling proof-of-mechanism with deep and durable IGF-1 suppression and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties that may enable dosing as infrequently as once every two weeks, compared to the daily subcutaneous injections required by the current standard of care.
“Treating our first acromegaly patient with MAR002 represents an important milestone for Marea Therapeutics,” said Josh Lehrer, M.D., president and chief operating officer of Lisata Therapeutics and chief executive officer of Marea Therapeutics. “We believe MAR002 has a potential best-in-class profile and, if approved, could be transformative for the majority of acromegaly patients who cannot achieve disease control with current therapies. We are focused on clinical execution to rapidly advance this product candidate to acromegaly patients who need new treatment options.”
“People living with acromegaly often face years of symptoms before receiving a diagnosis, and even after diagnosis, many continue to struggle with the long-term burden of managing this chronic disease,” said Jill Sisco, president of Acromegaly Community, Inc. “The advancement of new treatment options that have the potential to provide effective disease control while reducing treatment burden offers hope for the acromegaly community. We are encouraged to see continued investment in investigational therapies like MAR002 that aim to address the needs and priorities of people living with this condition and expand treatment options.”
This study intends to enroll approximately 72 participants with acromegaly across three MAR002 dose arms, after an initial 900 mg loading dose, compared to placebo, with a primary endpoint of IGF-1 reduction following 10 weeks of treatment. After completing the 10-week treatment period, eligible participants will have an option to enroll in an open-label extension clinical trial.
About Acromegaly
Acromegaly is an orphan disease characterized by the excess secretion of growth hormone (GH) from a benign pituitary adenoma. Acromegaly affects approximately 30,000 patients in the U.S. If left untreated, acromegaly is highly morbid, leading to significant comorbidities such as GH-induced insulin resistance and diabetes, and serious cardiovascular pathology. The median lifespan of patients can be shortened by 10 years without effective therapy, and incomplete IGF-1 normalization is associated with increased mortality. Despite its severity, acromegaly is often under or misdiagnosed, with an average time from symptom onset to diagnosis of approximately eight years.
About MAR002
MAR002 is a potent and selective half-life-extended, allosteric, human monoclonal growth hormone receptor antagonist (GHRA) antibody being developed for the treatment of acromegaly. The in vivo PK and PD properties of MAR002 have been observed to be predictable and typical of a half-life extended human antibody, showing a long duration of action compatible with infrequent subcutaneous dose administration in humans. These characteristics support its potential to offer an effective and convenient treatment for patients with acromegaly, if approved.
About Marea Therapeutics
Marea Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company harnessing the latest advances in human genetics to develop first-in-class, next-generation medicines for cardioendocrine diseases. The company’s lead product candidate, MAR001, is in Phase 2b clinical development for the treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG), a condition characterized by very high triglyceride levels. The company is also advancing MAR002 in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of acromegaly. To learn more, please visit www.mareatx.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
About Lisata Therapeutics
Lisata Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company. Following its acquisition of Marea, Lisata’s lead product candidate is MAR001, which is in Phase 2b clinical development for the treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG), a condition characterized by very high triglyceride levels. The company is also advancing MAR002 for the treatment of acromegaly.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning Lisata and Marea. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements relating to the company’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future including, without limitation, statements regarding expectations regarding or plans for the company’s pipeline, including its ongoing clinical trials, research and development programs and the expected timing for key milestones; and the potential benefits of its product candidates, including MAR002 and MAR001. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “opportunity,” “potential,” “milestones,” “pipeline,” “can,” “goal,” “aim,” “strategy,” “target,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “achieve,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions (including the negatives of these terms or variations of them) may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the company will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the company’s control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to those uncertainties and factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 12, 2026, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors included in other filings by the company from time to time, as well as risk factors associated with companies, such as Marea, that operate in the biotechnology industry. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the company’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this press release, which speak only as of the date they are made and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements herein. Except to the extent required by applicable law, the company does not undertake or accept any duty to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements. This press release does not purport to summarize all of the conditions, risks and other attributes of an investment in the company.
Lisata:
Investors and Media:
John Menditto
jmenditto@lisata.com
Marea:
Media:
1AB
Katie Engleman
katie@1abmedia.com
Investors:
Meru Advisors
Lauren Glaser
lglaser@meruadvisors.com
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What milestone has Lisata's subsidiary reached with MAR002 for acromegaly?
Marea Therapeutics has dosed the first patient in its Phase 2 clinical trial of MAR002 for acromegaly. MAR002 is an investigational antibody targeting the growth hormone receptor.
What will the Phase 2 MAR002 acromegaly trial measure?
The primary endpoint is IGF-1 reduction following 10 weeks of treatment. The study intends to enroll approximately 72 participants across three MAR002 dose arms, after an initial 900 mg loading dose, compared with placebo. Eligible participants completing the treatment period may enroll in an open-label extension trial.