Tourmaline Bio Highlights Cardiovascular Inflammation Focus and Announces Key Clinical and Strategic Updates at Investor Day

– Phase 2 TRANQUILITY trial surpasses enrollment target, with 143 total patients enrolled; topline data expected in second quarter of 2025 –

– Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA and Dipender Gill, MD, PhD join Cardiovascular Scientific Advisory Board –

– Company nominates abdominal aortic aneurysm as second cardiovascular indication for pacibekitug, expanding development for inflammation-driven cardiovascular disease –

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tourmaline Bio, Inc. (Tourmaline) (NASDAQ: TRML), a late-stage clinical biotechnology company developing transformative medicines to dramatically improve the lives of patients with life-altering immune and inflammatory diseases, today is hosting its Investor Day, beginning at 10 a.m. ET, during which it will outline progress across its pipeline and provide updates on its strategic priorities.

“We continue to be laser-focused on our development efforts for pacibekitug in order to maximize the potential of this program,” said Sandeep Kulkarni, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tourmaline Bio. “Today’s updates, including the over-enrollment of our TRANQUILITY trial, the expansion of our Cardiovascular Scientific Advisory Board, and the addition of a new indication, reflect the strength of our science, the caliber of our team, and our commitment to redefining standards of care for patients worldwide.”

Phase 2 TRANQUILITY Trial Progress

Tourmaline today is announcing the over-enrollment of its Phase 2 TRANQUILITY trial, which evaluates quarterly and monthly subcutaneous dosing of pacibekitug in patients with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and chronic kidney disease. A total of 143 patients have been enrolled in the Phase 2 TRANQUILITY trial, as compared to 120 patients originally anticipated. Tourmaline expects to report topline data from this trial in the second quarter of 2025.

The TRANQUILITY trial is the starting point of Tourmaline’s clinical development program for pacibekitug for the potential treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and other cardiovascular diseases. If successful, results from the TRANQUILITY trial are expected to position Tourmaline to be Phase 3-ready for ASCVD.

Expansion of Cardiovascular Scientific Advisory Board (CV SAB)

Tourmaline has expanded its CV SAB with two new appointments:

• Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA, FACC, FAHA, FESC, MSCAI joins as Chair of the Tourmaline CV SAB. Dr. Bhatt is the Director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and the Dr. Valentin Fuster Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Dr. Bhatt has served as principal investigator for a number of groundbreaking cardiovascular clinical trials, bringing to the CV SAB decades of clinical trial expertise.
• Dipender Gill, MD, PhD is the CEO of Sequoia Genetics and a specialist in leveraging human genetic evidence for drug development. Dr. Gill adds deep translational insight to Tourmaline’s strategic focus.

Indication Expansion in Cardiovascular Inflammation

Tourmaline has nominated abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) as an additional indication within its cardiovascular inflammation disease focus for pacibekitug. Tourmaline expects to provide additional details on a planned Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial in AAA after topline results from the Phase 2 TRANQUILITY trial are reported in Q2 2025.

Update on Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Development Program

In light of Tourmaline’s focus on cardiovascular inflammation, initiation of a Phase 3 trial in TED will be dependent upon results from the ongoing Phase 2b spiriTED trial. Topline data from the Phase 2b spiriTED trial are expected in the second half of 2025; Tourmaline expects to provide additional information on its future development plans in TED at that time.

Investor Day Event Information

Tourmaline’s Investor Day will take place on December 10, 2024, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. To register for Tourmaline’s Investor Day, please click or visit the section of Tourmaline’s website. A replay of the webcast will be available on Tourmaline’s website following the event. It is recommended that participants register at least 15 minutes in advance of the event.

About Tourmaline Bio

Tourmaline is a late-stage clinical biotechnology company driven by its mission to develop transformative medicines that dramatically improve the lives of patients with life-altering immune and inflammatory diseases. Tourmaline’s lead asset is pacibekitug (also referred to as TOUR006). For more information about Tourmaline Bio and pacibekitug, please visit  or follow us on or .

About Pacibekitug

Pacibekitug (also referred to as TOUR006) is a long-acting, fully-human, anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody with best-in-class potential and differentiated properties including a naturally long half-life, low immunogenicity, and high binding affinity to IL-6. Pacibekitug has been previously studied in approximately 450 participants, including patients with autoimmune disorders, across six completed clinical trials. Tourmaline is currently developing pacibekitug in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and thyroid eye disease (TED) as its first two indications, with plans to expand into abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and additional diseases in the future.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words and phrases such as “believe,” “designed to,” “expect,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “will” and similar expressions, and are based on Tourmaline’s current beliefs and expectations. These forward-looking statements include expectations regarding the development and potential therapeutic benefits of pacibekitug; the timing of initiation, progress and results of Tourmaline’s current and future clinical trials for pacibekitug, including reporting of data therefrom and additional details regarding the planning thereof; the timing of future announcements regarding Tourmaline’s development plans and the content of such announcements; the timing of a planned Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trial and of Phase 3 clinical trial readiness; and the timing and potential to expand pacibekitug into additional indications. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially include uncertainties inherent in the development of therapeutic product candidates, such as the risk that any one or more of Tourmaline’s current or future product candidates will not be successfully developed or commercialized; the risk of delay or cessation of any planned clinical trials of Tourmaline’s current or future product candidates; the risk that prior results, such as signals of safety, activity or durability of effect, observed from preclinical trials and clinical trials, will not be replicated or will not continue in ongoing or future studies or clinical trials involving Tourmaline’s current or future product candidates and/or current or future target indications; the risk that Tourmaline’s current or future product candidates or procedures in connection with the administration thereof will not have the safety or efficacy profile that Tourmaline anticipates; risks regarding the accuracy of Tourmaline’s estimates of expenses, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; changes in expected or existing competition; changes in the regulatory environment; the uncertainties and timing of the regulatory approval process; unexpected litigation or other disputes; the impacts of macroeconomic conditions Tourmaline’s business, clinical trials and financial position; and other risks and uncertainties that are described in Tourmaline’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 7, 2024 and other filings that Tourmaline makes with the SEC from time to time. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Tourmaline as of the date hereof, and Tourmaline assumes no obligation to, and does not intend to, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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