June 2022 in patients with MF and anemia, or MF Trial, and initiated a separate Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in February 2023 in patients with non-dialysis dependent CKD and anemia, or CKD Trial. We plan to present initial data from the MF Trial at ASH 2023, and initial data from the 28 mg dose cohort of the patients of the CKD Trial in a management call in December 2023.
In addition, we are developing a preclinical anti-hemojuvelin, or HJV, monoclonal antibody, DISC-0998, which also targets hepcidin suppression and was in-licensed from AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG. DISC-0998 is designed to increase serum iron levels and has an extended serum half-life as compared to DISC-0974. We believe this profile may be desirable in certain subsets of patients with anemia associated with inflammatory diseases.
Lastly, we are developing DISC-3405, a monoclonal antibody against Transmembrane Serine Protease 6, or TMPRSS6, that we licensed from Mabwell Therapeutics, Inc., or Mabwell. DISC-3405 is part of our iron homeostasis portfolio and is designed to induce hepcidin production and reduce serum iron levels. An IND for DISC-3405 was cleared by the FDA and we initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy adult volunteers in October 2023. We were granted fast track designation by the FDA for DISC-3405 for the treatment of PV in September 2023. We expect to develop DISC-3405 for the treatment of PV and other hematologic disorders.
Merger with Gemini
On August 9, 2022, Gemini Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Gemini”), Gemstone Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Gemini (“Merger Sub”), and Disc Medicine, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Private Disc”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”). The merger was completed on December 29, 2022. In accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Merger Sub merged with and into Private Disc, with Private Disc surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “merger”). Gemini changed its name to Disc Medicine Inc., and Private Disc, which remains as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, changed its name to Disc Medicine Opco, Inc. On December 30, 2022, the combined company’s common stock began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “IRON.”
Except as otherwise indicated, references herein to “Disc,” the “Company,” or the “combined company”, refer to Disc Medicine, Inc. on a post-merger basis, and the term “Private Disc” refers to the business of privately-held Disc Medicine, Inc., prior to completion of the merger. References to Gemini refer to Gemini Therapeutics, Inc. prior to completion of the merger.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the merger (the “Effective Time”), each person who as of immediately prior to the Effective Time was a stockholder of record of Gemini or had the right to receive Gemini’s common stock received a contractual contingent value right (“CVR”) issued by Gemini subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a Contingent Value Rights Agreement between Gemini, the holder’s representative and the rights agent (the “CVR Agreement”), representing the contractual right to receive consideration from the post-closing combined company upon the receipt of certain proceeds from a disposition of Gemini’s pre-merger assets (specifically, Gemini’s intellectual property assets, which the Company assumed in the merger) during the period that is one year after the closing of the merger, calculated in accordance with the CVR Agreement. In accordance with the CVR Agreement, the holders of the CVRs would receive proceeds from any disposition of the Gemini pre-merger assets, net of costs incurred by the Company in performance of its obligations under the CVR Agreement in excess of $250,000, paid in the form of common stock in the Company calculated based on the amount equal to such proceeds divided by the volume weighted average stock price of the Company for the five trading days prior to the issuance of the payment to the holders of the CVRs. In the event that Gemini’s pre-merger assets are disposed in the one-year period after the closing of the merger, and the Company receives net proceeds from such disposition over time following the initial disposition of such assets, any such proceeds would be similarly distributed to the holders of the CVRs for a period continuing through the tenth anniversary of the closing date of the merger.
To satisfy its obligations with respect to the CVRs and the Gemini IP, the Company hired an outside firm to attempt to sell the Gemini IP, which firm previously was unsuccessful in finding a buyer for the Gemini IP.