Targeting NDA submission for bitopertin in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) in H2 2025 through accelerated approval pathway; on track to initiate APOLLO post-marketing confirmatory trial by mid-2025 Positive update from Phase 1b trial of DISC-0974 in patients with anemia of myelofibrosis (MF) presented at ASH 2024; initial data from ongoing Phase 2 expected in H2 2025 Positive data from initial cohorts of ongoing Phase 1b study of DISC-0974 in patients with anemia of non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD) presented at ASN Kidney Week 2024; initial data from multiple dose portion of this study expected in H2 2025 Presented first-in-human SAD/MAD data from Phase 1 trial of DISC-3405 demonstrating proof-of-mechanism; a Phase 2 study in polycythemia vera (PV) expected to initiate in H1 2025 Strong financial position ending 2024 with $490 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, further strengthened by the net proceeds of our public offering in January 2025, expected to fund operations into 2028
WATERTOWN, Mass., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Disc Medicine, Inc. (NASDAQ:IRON), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from serious hematologic diseases, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024, and provided a recap of recent program and corporate developments.
“2024 was a transformative year for Disc, marked by the achievement of several milestones, most notably opening the door to a potential accelerated approval for bitopertin based on Phase 2 results linking PPIX reduction to improvement on clinical outcomes in EPP patients, and subsequently gaining alignment on the design of the APOLLO trial as a confirmatory study,” said John Quisel, J.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and President of Disc. “These achievements bring us meaningfully closer to delivering a potentially disease-modifying and life-altering treatment to patients. We expect to initiate the APOLLO trial in mid-2025 followed by an NDA submission in the second half of this year and are diligently preparing for the opportunity to bring bitopertin to market. In addition, we saw momentum across our portfolio, presenting positive clinical data readouts for each of our clinical programs. This included exciting data updates for DISC-0974 in anemias of MF and NDD-CKD, both serious conditions with high unmet patient need and significant opportunity for better treatment options. These latest clinical results strengthen our belief in the potential of our iron homeostasis portfolio assets to address a range of hematological diseases.”
Recent Highlights and Anticipated Milestones:
Bitopertin: GlyTI Inhibitor (Heme Synthesis Modulator)
Presentation of full results from Phase 2 AURORA and BEACON studies at 2024 ASH Annual Meeting demonstrating significant reductions in PPIX are associated with substantial improvements in time spent in sunlight, measures of quality of life, and reduction in phototoxic reactions Positive end-of-phase 2 meeting with FDA providing a path toward potential accelerated approval for bitopertin in EPP with protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) reduction as a surrogate endpoint Positive Type C meeting with FDA to achieve regulatory alignment on APOLLO post-marketing confirmatory trial design; on track to initiate trial by mid-year 2025 Planning to submit NDA under accelerated approval pathway in H2 2025 based on existing clinical data, including results from BEACON and AURORA Phase 2 trials
DISC-0974: Anti-Hemojuvelin Antibody (Hepcidin Suppression)
Presented positive data from the Phase 1b/2 study of DISC-0974 in anemia of myelofibrosis (MF), demonstrating robust and broad hematologic activity across patient segments Results showed substantial and durable improvements in hemoglobin, reductions in transfusion burden, and improvements in fatigue scores Initiated the Phase 2 portion of the study in December 2024, enrolling a broad range of patients after positive discussions with FDA Presented data from initial cohorts of ongoing Phase 1b study of DISC-0974 in patients with anemia of NDD-CKD, demonstrating hematologic activity following a single dose Presented preclinical data at ASH 2024 demonstrating the potential of DISC-0974 to treat anemia of chronic inflammatory diseases such as IBD The Company expects initial data from the ongoing Phase 2 MF anemia trial and multiple-dose data from the ongoing Phase 1b NDD-CKD trial in H2 2025
Results showed substantial and durable improvements in hemoglobin, reductions in transfusion burden, and improvements in fatigue scores Initiated the Phase 2 portion of the study in December 2024, enrolling a broad range of patients after positive discussions with FDA
DISC-3405: Anti-TMPRSS6 Antibody (Hepcidin Induction)
Presented complete data from the Phase 1 SAD/MAD trial in healthy volunteers, demonstrating proof-of-mechanism with substantial, dose-dependent increases in hepcidin and reductions in serum iron supportive of a once-monthly dosing regimen Presented positive preclinical data in sickle cell disease highlighting the potential for DISC-3405 to provide therapeutic benefit in SCD by restricting iron The Company plans to initiate a Phase 2 study in PV in H1 2025
Corporate:
In January 2025, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 4,533,182 shares of its common stock at $55.00 per share and 181,818 pre-funded warrants at $54.9999 per pre-funded warrant. The offering included 615,000 shares which were issued upon the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of common stock. The gross proceeds to the Company from the offering were approximately $259 million, before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company closed a $200 million non-dilutive debt financing with Hercules Capital. An initial $30 million was drawn at closing. An additional $80 million is available to be drawn through the second half of 2026 at the Company's discretion. An additional $65 million is available subject to the Company’s achievement of certain performance milestones. The final $25 million is available subject to Hercules’ consent during the interest-only period, which lasts for a minimum of 48 months from closing.
The gross proceeds to the Company from the offering were approximately $259 million, before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses.
Full Year 2024 Financial Results:
Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were $489.9 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $360.4 million as of December 31, 2023. The increase was largely due to net proceeds of $172.5 million and $27.6 million from the follow-on offering in June 2024 and the debt financing in November 2024, respectively. We expect that our existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of December 31, 2024, together with the estimated net proceeds of $243.3 million from our underwritten public offering completed in January 2025, will be sufficient to fund operational plans into 2028. Research and Development Expenses: R&D expenses were $96.7 million for the full year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $69.3 million for the full year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in R&D expenses was primarily driven by the progression of Disc’s portfolio, including bitopertin’s clinical studies and drug manufacturing, advancement of DISC-0974 and DISC-3405 programs deeper into development, and increased headcount. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses: SG&A expenses were $33.0 million for the full year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $21.9 million for the full year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily due to increased headcount including establishing infrastructure to support potential commercialization. Net Loss: Net loss was $109.4 million for the full year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $76.4 million for the full year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher operating costs in the current period to support the continued advancement of our pipeline.
About Disc Medicine
Disc Medicine (NASDAQ:IRON) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing novel treatments for patients who suffer from serious hematologic diseases. We are building a portfolio of innovative, potentially first-in-class therapeutic candidates that aim to address a wide spectrum of hematologic diseases by targeting fundamental biological pathways of red blood cell biology, specifically heme biosynthesis and iron homeostasis. For more information, please visit www.discmedicine.com.
Available Information
Disc announces material information to the public about the Company, its products and services, and other matters through a variety of means, including filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), press releases, public conference calls, webcasts and the investor relations section of the Company website at ir.discmedicine.com in order to achieve broad, non-exclusionary distribution of information to the public and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
Disc Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, express or implied statements regarding: expectations with respect to the next stages of its development programs for bitopertin, DISC-0974 and DISC-3405, including projected timelines for the initiation and completion of its clinical trials, anticipated timing of release of data, and other clinical activities; the registrational pathway for bitopertin, including the potential for accelerated approval; the potential of its development programs in new indications; and the strength of its financial position and its anticipated cash runway. The use of words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “future,” “potential,” “continue,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “will,” “should,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “opportunity,” or “could” or the negative of these terms and other similar words or expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on Disc’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of Disc’s business, future plans and strategies, clinical results and other future conditions. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements.
Disc may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of material risks and uncertainties including but not limited to: the adequacy of Disc’s capital to support its future operations and its ability to successfully initiate and complete clinical trials; the nature, strategy and focus of Disc; the difficulty in predicting the time and cost of development of Disc’s product candidates; Disc’s plans to research, develop and commercialize its current and future product candidates; the timing of initiation of Disc’s planned preclinical studies and clinical trials; the timing of the availability of data from Disc’s clinical trials; Disc’s ability to identify additional product candidates with significant commercial potential and to expand its pipeline in hematological diseases; the timing and anticipated results of Disc’s preclinical studies and clinical trials and the risk that the results of Disc’s preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of future results in connection with future studies or clinical trials and may not support further development and marketing approval; and the other risks and uncertainties described in Disc’s filings with the SEC, including in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. None of Disc, nor its affiliates, advisors or representatives, undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Media Contact
Peg Rusconi Deerfield Group peg.rusconi@deerfieldgroup.com
Investor Relations Contact
Christina Tartaglia Precision AQ Christina.tartaglia@precisionaq.com
