Silence Therapeutics' Phase 2 trial shows strong results for divesiran in polycythemia vera, shares jump 30%

Silence Therapeutics reported that its nucleic‑acid drug divesiran achieved a 69% placebo‑adjusted response rate in a Phase 2 study of polycythemia vera patients. Safety was reported as clean, with only two mild cases of anemia observed.

Analysts said the data make divesiran appear differentiated and could position it as a competitor to Takeda’s rusfertide, which is expected to seek U.S. approval later this year.

Following the announcement, Silence’s stock rose about 30% and the company used the momentum to raise $175 million in an upsized financing round.

In unrelated news, the FDA rejected a radiopharmaceutical that was being considered as a competitor to Novartis’ Lutathera.