Dr. Hoffman on the Mechanism of Action of PTG-300 in Polycythemia Vera

Ronald Hoffman, MD, professor of medicine, hematology, and medical oncology and director of the Myeloproliferative Diseases Program at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discusses the mechanism of action of the investigational hepcidin mimetic PTG-300 in polycythemia vera (PV).

Hepcidin regulates the absorption of iron into the body from the intestine, as well as the release of iron from macrophages, says Hoffman.

Patients with PV typically present with iron deficiency, which is exacerbated with phlebotomy, explains Hoffman. As such, hepcidin mimetics including PTG-300 could be a potential treatment for these patients.

PTG-300 administered subcutaneously may block the release of iron from macrophages, which could then serve as nursing cells that reduce the uncontrolled production of red blood cells, concludes Hoffman.