Protagonist Stock Moves Higher As Rusfertide Shows Durability Of Effect, Symptom Improvements In Blood Cancer Trial - Protagonist Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PTGX)

Protagonist Therapeutics Inc PTGX has announced updated results from the ongoing Phase 2 study of rusfertide for polycythemia vera (PV), a type of blood cancer.
Data were presented at the European Hematology Association 2021 Virtual Congress.
Rusfertide demonstrated long-term control of hematocrit (proportion of red blood cells in the blood) and durability of effect based on patients treated up to 18 months.
The treatment led to a reversal of iron deficiency as evidenced by increasing serum ferritin, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin values.
Rusfertide demonstrated similar efficacy in all patients, independent of risk group or prior and concurrent therapy.
Benefits were observed in patient-reported outcomes, attributed mainly to fatigue, concentration, consistent with an improvement in iron deficiency.
The current data indicate that rusfertide is well tolerated. The most common adverse events observed were transient injection site reactions.
The company will start the Phase 3 trial of rusfertide in early 2022.
Price Action: PTGX shares are up 17% at $39.59 during the market session on the last check Friday.