Shield Therapeutics PLC (LON:STX) has noted the publication of papers concerning its lead product to treat iron deficiency, Feraccru/Accrufer, in two scientific journals.
The first study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, concluded that ferric maltol, a component of Feraccru/Accrufer, was “well tolerated” by the majority of patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension (PH) and had resulted in “significant improvements in iron status and haemoglobin levels after 12 weeks of treatment”.
READ: Shield Therapeutics announces appointment of Hans Peter Hasler as its non-executive chairman from June 18
The study added that these changes were accompanied by signs of “improved right ventricular function and improved exercise capacity, supporting the notion that iron deficiency has detrimental effects in patients with PH and that treating iron deficiency anaemia in these patients is important”.
“Despite the limitations of a small open label study, the results suggest that oral iron supplementation with ferric maltol might become a safe, effective and convenient treatment option for patients with PH and iron deficiency”, the company said.
Meanwhile, Shield said a second paper, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, recognised the importance of maintaining iron treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and that oral iron, preferably ferric maltol, could be a suitable alternative for many patients to IV iron and reduce non-essential hospital activities.
Shares in Shield were 1.6% higher at 97p in early trading on Wednesday.