Acceleron Announces Retirement of Director Jean George

Acceleron Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq:XLRN), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of TGF-beta superfamily therapeutics to treat serious and rare diseases, today announced that Jean George is retiring from her position on its Board of Directors.

“As one of Acceleron’s longest-serving Board members, Jean has been instrumental in helping to guide the Company toward its current position of strength,” said Francois Nader, MD, Chairman of Acceleron Pharma. “Acceleron has benefited significantly from her extensive industry, investment, and entrepreneurial experience. The Board and I are enormously grateful for her myriad contributions over the years.”

Ms. George has been a member of Acceleron’s Board of Directors since 2005. Since 2002, she has been a Managing Director at Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV) and serves as the firm’s East Coast lead partner for healthcare investments. Since 2013, she has also served as a Managing Director at LSV Capital Management. Prior to joining ATV, Ms. George was a Director at BancBoston Ventures, where she led the team’s investment activity in multiple health care portfolio holdings. Prior to transitioning to venture investing, she spent 10 years at Genzyme Corporation, where she held a variety of operational roles, including Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing and served as a Vice President and Founder of Genzyme’s Tissue Repair Division.

“I have been fortunate to work alongside Jean throughout my three and a half-year tenure as CEO,” said Habib Dable, President and Chief Executive Officer of Acceleron. “I am grateful for her invaluable industry insights, investor acumen, and strong scientific instincts. I know I speak for the entire senior management team in thanking Jean for her guidance and support over the last 15 years.”

“It’s been a professional thrill to participate in Acceleron’s maturation from a research-focused organization to a clinical-stage company to a commercial enterprise with an impressive portfolio,” said Ms. George. “I know I am leaving the Company poised for growth in capable hands. Given Acceleron’s more recent achievements in hematology and pulmonary, I am excited to watch the next chapters unfold.”

About Acceleron

Acceleron is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutics to treat serious and rare diseases. Acceleron’s leadership in the understanding of TGF-beta superfamily biology and protein engineering generates innovative compounds that engage the body's ability to regulate cellular growth and repair.

Acceleron focuses its research and development efforts in hematologic and pulmonary diseases. In hematology, Acceleron and its global collaboration partner, Bristol-Myers Squibb, are co-promoting newly approved REBLOZYL® (luspatercept-aamt), the first and only approved erythroid maturation agent, in the United States and are developing luspatercept for the treatment of chronic anemia in myelofibrosis. Acceleron is developing sotatercept for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, having recently reported positive topline results of the Phase 2 PULSAR trial and actively enrolling patients in the Phase 2 SPECTRA trial.

For more information, please visit www.acceleronpharma.com. Follow Acceleron on social media: @AcceleronPharma and LinkedIn.

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