Disc Medicine Secures $50 Million Series A Financing to Advance Hepcidin-Based Therapies for Blood Disorders

On October 30, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that biotechnology company Disc Medicine announced the completion of a $50 million Series A financing round. The round was led by Novo Holdings, Access Biotechnology, and founding investor Atlas Venture.

Disc Medicine to Use Latest Funding Round to Develop Innovative Therapies for Hematologic Diseases; Former Nimbus Therapeutics CEO Donald Nicholson Appointed Executive Chairman of Disc Medicine

Disc Medicine, an early-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Massachusetts, United States, was founded in 2017 by the venture capital firm Atlas Venture and Brian MacDonald. The company is dedicated to developing innovative therapies for hematologic diseases. Leveraging its team’s expertise in human genetics and biology, Disc Medicine primarily harnesses hepcidin modulation to promote erythropoiesis and help patients with hereditary and acquired anemias regain their health.

Hepcidin is a cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptide synthesized and secreted by the liver, serving as a key regulator of human iron metabolism. During immune responses, this molecule is highly expressed and participates in immunological processes, exerting negative feedback regulation on systemic iron homeostasis. Hepcidin holds therapeutic significance for iron metabolism disorders and is primarily used in the treatment of conditions such as myelodysplastic syndromes, thalassemia, and anemia of chronic disease.

Currently, Disc Medicine is advancing two drug development programs related to hepcidin: one is an oral matriptase-2 inhibitor, which increases hepcidin expression levels for the treatment of anemia associated with iron overload; the other is a hemojuvelin (HJV) antagonist, a monoclonal antibody that reduces hepcidin expression for the treatment of chronic hematologic disorders. Hemojuvelin, also known as the hepcidin regulatory protein, is primarily expressed in the liver, heart, and skeletal muscle.

Brian MacDonald, Founder and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Disc Medicine, stated, “Hepcidin holds significant importance in the treatment of blood disorders. We aim to leverage this molecule to develop best-in-class therapies, thereby helping a broader population of patients with anemia.”

Kevin Bitterman, Founding Investor at Atlas Venture, stated, “Disc Medicine is poised to develop novel therapies for blood disorders through hepcidin modulation. Over the past 50 years, the primary treatment for anemia has been blood transfusion, a approach with limited efficacy and high medical costs. Consequently, patients often face restricted treatment options and poor prognoses. We believe that Disc Medicine’s innovative therapies will transform the therapeutic landscape for blood disorders.”

Atlas Venture, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Massachusetts, USA, is a leading venture capital firm. Since its inception, the company has focused on the biotechnology sector, primarily providing financial support to startups and distinguished scientists and entrepreneurs.

Novo Holdings, established in 1999 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, is the venture capital and private equity arm of Novo Nordisk. As a leading global life sciences investment firm, it manages a diversified portfolio of financial assets and is committed to creating long-term value for the market.

Access Biotechnology, headquartered in New York, USA, is the life sciences investment arm of Access Industries, a renowned chemical conglomerate, primarily assisting pharmaceutical companies in developing and commercializing innovative therapies.

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)