(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (“Protagonist”) (NASDAQ:PTGX) and Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) announce that new 52-week results from the pivotal Phase 3 VERIFY study evaluating rusfertide in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) will be presented in an oral presentation at the 67th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. These findings further reinforce rusfertide’s efficacy and safety and demonstrate durability of response, with 61.9% of patients continuously treated with rusfertide maintaining absence of phlebotomy eligibility from baseline to Week 52.
“The 52-week data demonstrated the sustained efficacy of rusfertide, reducing the need for patients to receive phlebotomy while maintaining hematocrit control,” said Dr. Andrew T. Kuykendall, M.D., VERIFY Lead Investigator and Associate Member in the Department of Hematology at Moffitt Cancer Center. “The 32-week VERIFY primary results were already promising, and this deeper understanding of the durability of response with rusfertide is critical to inform clinical decision-making for polycythemia vera. In totality, these findings, including the long-term extension data from THRIVE, reaffirm rusfertide as a potential new addition to the standard of care for patients with PV.”
Achieving and maintaining controlled hematocrit (HCT) levels of <45% is the primary treatment goal in PV to prevent thrombotic events and help alleviate symptoms. However, many patients still experience uncontrolled hematocrit levels and burdensome symptoms with current standard of care treatments. The VERIFY study, designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rusfertide in patients with uncontrolled hematocrit who are phlebotomy-dependent despite receiving current standard of care treatment, met the primary endpoint and all four key secondary endpoints in its previously-reported 32-week primary analysis. During Part 1a (Weeks 0-32) of the VERIFY study, 293 patients were randomized to receive either rusfertide (147 patients) or placebo (146 patients), as an add-on to their current treatment. During Part 1b (Weeks 32-52), all participants were eligible to receive open-label rusfertide to evaluate the durability of the treatment response. 274 patients (94%) continued into Part 1b, and 267 patients (91%) remained in the study through Week 52, with 254 continuing to receive rusfertide in Part 2 (Weeks 52-156).
Key findings at 52 Weeks include1,2:
Phlebotomy Eligibility
61.9% of patients treated with rusfertide plus current standard of care throughout Parts 1a and 1b of the study experienced a durable clinical response, defined as absence of phlebotomy eligibility.
84.1% of patients treated with rusfertide who experienced a clinical response in the Part 1a assessment window (Weeks 20-32) maintained their response.
77.9% of patients who crossed over from placebo to rusfertide at Week 32 for Part 1b experienced a clinical response during the Part 1b assessment window (Weeks 40-52).
Median time to first phlebotomy was 16 Weeks in the placebo group, while median time to first phlebotomy was not reached in either the rusfertide group in Part 1a or 1b, or the placebo to rusfertide crossover group in Part 1b.
HCT Control
Mean hematocrit remained <43% through Week 52 in patients treated with rusfertide throughout Part 1a and Part 1b and those who switched from placebo to rusfertide for Part 1b.
Median time to first hematocrit ≥ 45% was 8.3 Weeks in the placebo group in Part 1a, while median time to first hematocrit ≥ 45% was not reached in the rusfertide group during Parts 1a or 1b.
Quality of Life Endpoints
Patients treated with rusfertide in Parts 1a and 1b maintained improvements in patient reported outcomes as measured by PROMIS Fatigue SF-8a and MFSAF TSS7.
Rusfertide was generally well-tolerated through 52 Weeks of treatment. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (AE) in rusfertide-treated patients were injection site reactions (47.4%), anemia (25.6%) and fatigue (19.6%), which were primarily grade 1 or 2. Serious AEs occurred in 8.1% of overall rusfertide-treated patients.
The durability of response and safety profile of rusfertide in patients with PV from the 52-week VERIFY data are further supported by the four-year analysis of 46 patients who continued from REVIVE to the long-term extension study, THRIVE.
The results show that after transitioning to THRIVE, continued treatment with rusfertide with or without cytoreductive therapy demonstrated consistent, long-term hematocrit control with a greater than 13-fold reduction in estimated annual therapeutic phlebotomy rate compared to baseline prior to study entry in REVIVE. Prior to study entry in REVIVE, the mean annualized phlebotomy rate (i.e., phlebotomy/year) for the 46 patients who eventually rolled over to THRIVE was 9.2 phlebotomies/year. The mean annualized phlebotomy rate during THRIVE was 0.7 phlebotomies/year.3 Rusfertide’s safety profile was consistent with prior observations.
“The totality of these data further demonstrates rusfertide’s well tolerated safety profile and ability to deliver durable hematocrit control and clinical response as defined by absence of phlebotomy eligibility and support its potential to expand the treatment armamentarium for PV and positively impact the lives of patients with PV,” said Arturo Molina, M.D., M.S., Chief Medical Officer at Protagonist. “We look forward to continuing to work with our partner, Takeda, to prepare for submission of an NDA to the FDA.”
“We are committed to making a difference for patients with PV who face serious risks from thrombotic events if they are unable to adequately control hematocrit levels with currently available treatment options,” said Phuong Khanh (P.K.) Morrow, M.D., Head of the Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit at Takeda. “The comprehensive data presented at ASH, from the pivotal VERIFY and long-term THRIVE studies, strongly underscore the potential of rusfertide to provide a sustained response, addressing a critical unmet need in managing this chronic cancer. We are excited to advance rusfertide towards regulatory approval in collaboration with Protagonist, bringing us one step closer to improving the care of patients suffering from PV.”
Rusfertide has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
About VERIFY
The Phase 3 VERIFY study (NCT05210790) is an ongoing, three-part, global, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluating rusfertide in 293 patients with polycythemia vera over a 156-week period, with treatment extension for participants who are continuing to derive benefit from rusfertide beyond the 156-week treatment period. The study is evaluating the efficacy and safety of once-weekly, subcutaneously self-administered rusfertide in patients with uncontrolled hematocrit who are phlebotomy-dependent despite current standard of care treatment, which could include hydroxyurea, interferon and/or ruxolitinib. The primary endpoint of the study was the proportion of patients achieving a response during Weeks 20-32, which was defined as the absence of “phlebotomy eligibility.” To meet phlebotomy eligibility, patients in the study were required to have: confirmed hematocrit ≥45% that was ≥3% higher than their baseline hematocrit value, or hematocrit ≥48%.
All patients have completed their participation in the randomized, placebo-controlled portion of the study evaluating the efficacy and safety of rusfertide plus current standard of care versus placebo plus current standard of care and are now in the open-label portions of the study.
About THRIVE
The THRIVE study (NCT06033586) is an ongoing, open-label extension study evaluating the long-term durability of response and safety profile of rusfertide in patients with polycythemia vera. The study includes 46 patients who previously participated in the Phase 2 REVIVE study (NCT04057040). Patients eligible to transition to the THRIVE study completed the open-label extension portion of REVIVE, ≥12 months of rusfertide therapy and had an end-of-treatment visit. THRIVE is designed to further assess the maintenance of hematocrit control, reduction in the need for therapeutic phlebotomy and overall safety of once-weekly, subcutaneous rusfertide over an additional two-year treatment period.
About Polycythemia Vera (PV)
Polycythemia vera (PV) is characterized by the overproduction of red blood cells (erythrocytosis), which increases blood viscosity, or thickness, that can result in life threatening thrombotic events such as stroke, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Hematocrit (HCT) is the ratio of red blood cells to total amount of blood in the body. Achieving and maintaining controlled HCT levels of <45% is the primary treatment goal in PV to prevent thrombotic events and alleviate burdensome symptoms, including severe fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, night sweats and pruritus.
About Protagonist
Protagonist Therapeutics is a discovery through late-stage development biopharmaceutical company. Two novel peptides derived from Protagonist's proprietary discovery platform are currently in advanced Phase 3 clinical development, with New Drug Application (NDA) for icotrokinra submitted to the FDA in July and in the NDA submission for rusfertide expected by end of 2025. Icotrokinra (formerly, JNJ-2113), is a first-in-class investigational targeted oral peptide that selectively blocks the Interleukin-23 receptor ("IL-23R") which is licensed to Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, Inc. Following icotrokinra's joint discovery by Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson scientists pursuant to the companies' IL-23R collaboration, Protagonist was primarily responsible for development of icotrokinra through Phase 1, with Johnson & Johnson assuming responsibility for development in Phase 2 and beyond. Rusfertide, a mimetic of the natural hormone hepcidin, is currently in Phase 3 development for the rare blood disorder polycythemia vera (PV). Rusfertide is being co-developed and will be co-commercialized with Takeda Pharmaceuticals pursuant to a worldwide collaboration and license agreement entered in 2024 under which the Company remains primarily responsible for development through NDA filing. The Company also has a number of preclinical stage drug discovery programs addressing clinically and commercially validated targets, including IL-17 oral peptide antagonist PN-881, obesity triple agonist peptide PN-477, and the oral hepcidin program.
More information on Protagonist, its pipeline drug candidates and clinical studies can be found on the Company's website at https://www.protagonist-inc.com/.
About Takeda
Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com.
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Kuykendall A, et al. Rusfertide or Placebo Plus Current Standard of Care Therapy for Polycythemia Vera: Durability of Response and Safety Results Through Week 52 From the Randomized Controlled Phase 3 VERIFY Study. Oral presentation at: American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, December 6, 2025. Orlando, FL. Presentation ID 81.
Kuykendall A, et al. Rusfertide or Placebo Plus Current Standard of Care Therapy for Polycythemia Vera: Durability of Response and Safety Results Through Week 52 From the Randomized Controlled Phase 3 VERIFY Study. Abstract accepted for oral presentation at: American Society of Hematology 2025 Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL. Abstract ID 81.
Pemmaraju N, et al. Long-term rusfertide treatment in polycythemia vera: Initial results from the Phase 2 THRIVE extension study. Abstract accepted for poster presentation at: American Society of Hematology 2025 Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL. Abstract ID 3810.
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