Imara Inc. announced data from a pre-specified interim analysis from its ongoing Forte Phase 2b clinical trial of tovinontrine (IMR-687) in transfusion-dependent subjects (TDT) with beta-thalassemia. Subjects in the Forte trial were randomized to either a low dose group (200 mg or 300 mg), high dose group (300 mg or 400 mg), or placebo, utilizing a pre-defined weight gate. Of the 43 TDT subjects in this interim dataset, 35 completed at least 12 weeks of treatment and were in the analysis population for transfusion burden. Safety data through week 24 from high and low dose groups were pooled for this interim analysis to prevent unblinding of the study. The median baseline transfusion burden in each of the high dose tovinontrine and placebo groups was 7.5 red blood cell (RBC) units/12 weeks. Furthermore, 54% of the subjects in the analysis population (19/35) had the more severe ?0/?0 genotype. Interim data from the Forte study demonstrated tovinontrine was well-tolerated, with the most frequent adverse events (=10% of subjects in pooled tovinontrine dose groups) being nausea, headache and dizziness. Four (9.3%) subjects discontinued due to adverse events considered at least possibly related to study drug. The proportion of subjects who had a =33% reduction in transfusion burden (of at least 2 units) in any 12-week interval as compared to the 12-week interval prior to randomization was great in the high dose tovinontrine group (7/8) versus placebo, despite an unexpectedly high response rate in the placebo group (8/12). Low dose tovinontrine did not show a high response rate when compared to the placebo group. No substantial differences between groups were observed in transfusion burden response rate using a fixed interval (weeks 13-24). Red blood cell markers are not evaluable in these regularly transfused subjects. Additional data will be presented as part of a key efficacy analysis expected in the first quarter of 2022.