Protagonist Therapeutics

Rusfertide is an investigational new drug that is being developed by Protagonist Therapeutics in partnership with Takeda for the treatment of polycythemia vera (PV). It is a cyclic peptide that is administered subcutaneously that mimics the action of hepcidin, the principal hormone regulating systemic iron homeostasis and red blood cell production. By binding to ferroportin and inducing its degradation, rusfertide restricts iron delivery to the bone marrow, thereby reducing erythrocytosis and improving hematocrit control while markedly decreasing the need for phlebotomy. The drug has received regulatory designations including Breakthrough Therapy and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a New Drug Application for PV has been submitted based on these data.