Disc Medicine Secures $200 Million in Non-Dilutive Debt Financing from Hercules Capital, Inc.
November 08 2024 - 8:30AM
Disc Medicine, Inc. (NASDAQ:IRON), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development,
and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering
from serious hematologic diseases, today announced that it has
obtained a $200 million non-dilutive term loan facility from
Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HTGC), a leader in customized debt
financing for companies in the life sciences and technology-related
markets. This financing provides funding options to support
anticipated key catalysts, including the expected initiation of a
confirmatory study of bitopertin in erythropoietic protoporphyria
(EPP), a Phase 2 study of DISC-0974 in anemia of myelofibrosis (MF)
and a multiple dose study in anemia of non-dialysis dependent
chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD), and a Phase 2 study of DISC-3405
in polycythemia vera (PV).
“With this non-dilutive $200 million financing, we are
well-positioned as we prepare for upcoming catalysts across our
entire pipeline including the potential initiation of a
confirmatory trial of bitopertin in EPP by mid-2025 and related
commercial preparations,” said Jean Franchi, Chief Financial
Officer of Disc. “Not only does this non-dilutive financing
strengthen what we believe to be an already strong financial
position, it provides optionality and strategic flexibility in
future capital formation as we continue to advance our pipeline in
pursuit of our mission to deliver innovative treatments to patients
suffering from serious hematologic diseases.”
“Hercules is pleased to partner with Disc in the further
development of their hematology pipeline,” said Bryan Jadot, Senior
Managing Director and Group Head at Hercules Capital. “We are
committed to financing promising life sciences companies to help
them achieve their ambitious goals, and we are excited to
collaborate with the Disc team ahead of numerous milestones and
support them in their next phase of growth.”
The loan facility consists of up to four tranches, three of
which can be drawn at Disc’s option and each maturing in November
2029. The loan facility provides for at least 48-months of
interest-only at close, which interest-only period can be extended
up to 60 months upon satisfaction of certain milestones. An initial
$30 million tranche was funded at closing with an additional $80
million available to be drawn at Disc’s option. An additional $65
million is available subject to the Company’s achievement of
specified performance milestones. The final $25 million tranche is
available for draw, at Disc’s option and subject to Hercules
consent during the interest-only period.
Armentum Partners acted as the Company’s exclusive
financial advisor on this transaction.
Additional details of the loan agreement will be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on a Current Report on Form
8-K.
About Disc Medicine, Inc.
Disc Medicine (NASDAQ:IRON) is a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and
commercializing novel treatments for patients who suffer from
serious hematologic diseases. We are building a portfolio of
innovative, potentially first-in-class therapeutic candidates that
aim to address a wide spectrum of hematologic diseases by targeting
fundamental biological pathways of red blood cell biology,
specifically heme biosynthesis and iron homeostasis. For more
information, please visit www.discmedicine.com.
Disc Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, including, but not limited to, express or implied statements
regarding Disc’s expectations with respect to its potential
confirmatory study of bitopertin in EPP, Phase 2 study of DISC-0974
in anemia of MF, multiple dose study in anemia of NDD-CKD, Phase 2
study of DISC-3405 in PV, and its other clinical activities and
related timelines; its commercialization preparations; and its
financial position and future capital formation options. The use of
words such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,”
“project,” “intend,” “future,” “potential,” “continue,” “may,”
“might,” “plan,” “will,” “should,” “seek,” “anticipate,” or “could”
or the negative of these terms and other similar words or
expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts
nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on
Disc’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the
future of Disc’s business, future plans and strategies, clinical
results and other future conditions. New risks and uncertainties
may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all
risks and uncertainties. No representations or warranties
(expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such
forward-looking statements.
Disc may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or
expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and
investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from
the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the
forward-looking statements as a result of a number of material
risks and uncertainties including but not limited to: the adequacy
of Disc’s capital to support its future operations and its ability
to successfully initiate and complete clinical trials; the nature,
strategy and focus of Disc; the difficulty in predicting the time
and cost of development of Disc’s product candidates; Disc’s plans
to research, develop and commercialize its current and future
product candidates; the timing of initiation of Disc’s planned
preclinical studies and clinical trials; the timing of the
availability of data from Disc’s clinical trials; Disc’s ability to
identify additional product candidates with significant commercial
potential and to expand its pipeline in hematological diseases; the
timing and anticipated results of Disc’s preclinical studies and
clinical trials and the risk that the results of Disc’s preclinical
studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of future results
in connection with future studies or clinical trials and may not
support further development and marketing approval; and the other
risks and uncertainties described in Disc’s filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the “Risk Factors”
section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2023, and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on
which it was made. None of Disc, nor its affiliates, advisors or
representatives, undertake any obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
law.
Media ContactPeg RusconiDeerfield
Grouppeg.rusconi@deerfieldgroup.com
Investor Relations ContactChristina
TartagliaPrecision AQchristina.tartaglia@precisionaq.com
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