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Disc Medicine Announces Several Presentations Across Hematology Portfolio at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting

Tags:   ASH  


WATERTOWN, Mass., Dec. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Disc Medicine, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel treatments for patients living with serious hematologic diseases, presented five posters spanning several of its hematology programs at the 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition held in New Orleans, LA.


"Disc Medicine continues to make considerable progress towards the development of potentially first-in-class therapeutic candidates for hematologic disorders," said John Quisel, J.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at Disc Medicine. "The five presentations at the ASH Annual Meeting demonstrate the remarkable work of our team to develop novel candidates that are designed to target fundamental pathways with validated roles in red blood cell biology."



A copy of each poster presentation from the ASH Annual Meeting is available on Disc's website.


Bitopertin: Bitopertin is an investigational, orally administered inhibitor of glycine transporter 1, GlyT1, that is designed to inhibit heme biosynthesis, with two Phase 2 trials currently ongoing in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a disease characterized by extreme phototoxic reactions and liver disease caused by an accumulation of the heme metabolite metal-free PPIX.


Poster 2346: BEACON: A Phase 2, Randomized, Open Label Study of Bitopertin to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy, and Protoporphyrin IX Concentrations in Participants with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP)


Poster 3661: Bitopertin, a Selective Glycine Transporter 1 Inhibitor, Reduced PPIX Level and Improved Liver Fibrosis in a Mouse Model of Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP)


DISC-0974: DISC-0974 is an investigational monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-signaling co-receptor called hemojuvelin (HJV) and is designed to suppress hepcidin production and increase serum iron levels in patients suffering from anemia of inflammation.



Poster 2339: DISC-0974, an Anti-Hemojuvelin Antibody, Reduces Hepcidin and Mobilizes Iron in Healthy Volunteers


Poster 3641: DISC-0974, an Anti-Hemojuvelin (HJV) Monoclonal Antibody, Reduced Hepcidin and Improved Anemia in a Rat Model of Chronic Kidney Disease


DISC-0998: DISC-0998 is an investigational, potent and highly selective HJV mAb engineered with the mutation combination of T250Q/M429L (QL-mutation) in the Fc region, which is designed to alter binding to the FcRn receptor and increase PK half-life.


Poster 3657: Preclinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of DISC-0998, a Humanized Anti-Hemojuvelin (HJV) Monoclonal Antibody to Suppress the Production of Hepcidin


About Disc Medicine

Disc Medicine is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with hematologic disorders. We are building a portfolio of innovative, potentially first-in-class therapeutic candidates that are designed to affect fundamental pathways of red blood cell biology. We are committed to developing treatments that empower and bring hope to the many patients who suffer from hematologic diseases. For more information, please visit www.discmedicine.com.



On August 10, 2022, Gemini Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GMTX) ("Gemini") and Disc Medicine, Inc. ("Disc"), announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement to combine the companies in an all-stock transaction. The combined company will focus on advancing Disc's pipeline of hematology programs, including multiple clinical trials for its clinical-stage programs bitopertin and DISC-0974. Upon shareholder approval, the combined company is expected to operate under the name Disc Medicine, Inc. and trade on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol IRON. The merger and related financing are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022. For more information visit: https://www.discmedicine.com/news/gemini-therapeutics-and-disc-medicine-announce-merger-agreement/.


Disc Medicine Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements


Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the federal securities laws concerning the proposed transaction between Disc and Gemini including whether and when the proposed transaction will be consummated; statements about the structure, timing and completion of the proposed transaction; and other matters, including Disc's expectations with respect to its AURORA and BEACON clinical trials and Phase 1b/2a clinical study of DISC-0974 in myelofibrosis and anemia, its plans to initiate a Phase 2 study of DISC-0974 in chronic kidney disease, and other statements that are not historical in nature. These forward-looking statements include express or implied statements relating to Disc's management team's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Disc, Gemini or the proposed transaction will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond Disc's control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that the conditions to the closing of the transaction are not satisfied, including the failure to obtain stockholder approval for the transaction; the risk that the concurrent financing is not completed in a timely manner or at all; uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the transaction and the ability of each of Gemini and Disc to consummate the transaction, including the concurrent financing; risks related to Gemini's continued listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market until closing of the proposed transaction; risks related to Gemini's and Disc's ability to correctly estimate their respective operating expenses and expenses associated with the transaction, as well as uncertainties regarding the impact any delay in the closing would have on the anticipated cash resources of the combined company upon closing and other events and unanticipated spending and costs that could reduce the combined company's cash resources; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance or condition that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the merger on Gemini's or Disc's business relationships, operating results and business generally; costs related to the merger; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Gemini, Disc or any of their respective directors or officers related to the merger agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby; the ability of Gemini or Disc to protect their respective intellectual property rights; competitive responses to the transaction; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; and legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments.  The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of the proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Initial Registration Statement"), which was initially filed on September 2, 2022, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Initial Registration Statement filed with the SEC on October 7, 2022, Amendment No. 2 to the Initial Registration Statement filed with the SEC on November 3, 2022, Amendment No. 3 to the Initial Registration Statement filed with the SEC on November 23, 2022 and Amendment No. 4 to the Initial Registration Statement filed with the SEC on December 1, 2022 (together with the Initial Registration Statement, the "Registration Statement") and declared effective on December 2, 2022, in connection with the transaction and other documents filed by Gemini from time to time with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of Disc's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Some of these risks and uncertainties may in the future be amplified by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and there may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. Disc's forward-looking statements only speak as of the date they are made, and Gemini and Disc do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.


No Offer or Solicitation

In connection with the proposed transaction between Gemini and Disc, Gemini filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4, as amended, containing a definitive proxy statement/prospectus of Gemini. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on December 2, 2022, and the special meeting of Gemini stockholders is scheduled to be held on December 28, 2022. GEMINI URGES INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THESE MATERIALS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GEMINI, DISC, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and shareholders are able to obtain free copies of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Gemini with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders should note that Gemini communicates with investors and the public using its website (www.geminitherapeutics.com) and the investor relations website (https://investors.geminitherapeutics.com/) where anyone is able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Gemini with the SEC and stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus/information statement and the other relevant materials before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed transaction.


Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction between Gemini and Disc, Gemini filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4, as amended, containing a definitive proxy statement/prospectus of Gemini. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on December 2, 2022, and the special meeting of Gemini stockholders is scheduled to be held on December 28, 2022. GEMINI URGES INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS TO READ THESE MATERIALS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GEMINI, DISC, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and shareholders are able to obtain free copies of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Gemini with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders should note that Gemini communicates with investors and the public using its website (www.geminitherapeutics.com) and the investor relations website (https://investors.geminitherapeutics.com/) where anyone is able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Gemini with the SEC and stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus/information statement and the other relevant materials before making any voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed transaction.


Participants in the Solicitation

Gemini, Disc and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about Gemini's directors and executive officers is included in Gemini's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including any information incorporated therein by reference as filed with the SEC, and the definitive proxy/prospectus filed by Gemini with the SEC on December 2, 2022, and any amendments thereto as filed with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.


SOURCE Disc Medicine

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