(RTTNews) - Disc Medicine Inc. (IRON), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Sunday, presented positive updated results from a Phase 1b trial evaluating its drug candidate DISC-0974 in patients with myelofibrosis and anemia.
Myelofibrosis (MF) is a rare, chronic blood cancer, characterized primarily by treatment-resistant anemia. In the United States, approximately 25,000 individuals are impacted by MF.
DISC-0974, in-licensed by Disc from AbbVie in 2019, is an investigational monoclonal antibody designed to suppress hepcidin production and increase serum iron levels in patients suffering from anemia of inflammation.
The phase Ib trial included 35 adult patients with myelofibrosis and anemia, representing a diverse cohort that included patients who were non-transfusion dependent receiving no transfusions, transfusion-dependent with low transfusion burden, and transfusion-dependent with high transfusion burden. The trial also included participants both on concomitant JAK inhibitor therapy and those not receiving JAK inhibitors.
DISC-0974 was administered subcutaneously at doses of 14 mg, 28 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg, or 100 mg every 4 weeks for up to 6 treatments.
According to the updated results, DISC-0974 resulted in significant and consistent reductions in hepcidin, exceeding 75% from baseline, along with corresponding increases in serum iron levels. These changes were reflected in higher reticulocyte hemoglobin and hemoglobin levels across patients.
The company noted that durable hematologic responses were observed across all patient subgroups, irrespective of baseline transfusion status or concurrent JAK inhibitor therapy.
Bolstered by the positive phase Ib results, the company revealed that it now started a phase 2 trial of DISC-0974 in myelofibrosis patients with anemia.
IRON closed Friday's trading at $64.82, up by 4.03% on Nasdaq.
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