Definition

A humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) co-receptor hemojuvelin (HJV), with potential to treat anemia of inflammation and other forms of anemia. Upon subcutaneous administration, anti-HJV monoclonal antibody DISC-0974 targets and binds to HJV, preventing it from binding to the hepcidin regulatory ligands BMPs and inhibiting the HJV-mediated signaling pathway. This suppresses hepcidin synthesis and increases iron availability, which may normalize plasma iron levels and increase erythropoiesis. HJV is required for hepcidin production. Hepcidin plays a key role in the homeostasis of systemic iron by restricting iron absorption and inhibiting ferroportin-mediated iron export; it is upregulated during acute and chronic inflammation in response to cytokines and, in certain cancers, may contribute to cancer-associated anemia.