Silence Therapeutics reports positive Phase 2 trial results for divesiran in rare blood cancer

Silence Therapeutics announced positive Phase 2 SANRECO trial results for its siRNA therapy, divesiran, in 48 patients with the rare blood cancer polycythemia vera. The trial met its primary endpoint, with 88% of divesiran-treated patients achieving a clinical response compared to 19% on placebo. Divesiran also reduced the mean number of phlebotomies from 2.1 to 0.2 per patient. Following the news, Silence Therapeutics stock surged up to 41% on August 10, 2026, as the company prepares to launch a Phase 3 trial in the first half of 2027.

Phase 2 SANRECO trial results

• ▪Silence Therapeutics announced that its Phase 2 SANRECO trial of divesiran in 48 phlebotomy-dependent polycythemia vera patients met its primary endpoint, achieving an 88% clinical response rate compared to 19% for placebo.
• ▪In the Phase 2 SANRECO trial, divesiran was observed to be well tolerated with no new safety findings, though two investigator-reported cases of grade 1 anemia occurred.
• ▪The Phase 2 SANRECO trial met its key secondary endpoint, with divesiran-treated patients requiring a mean of 0.2 phlebotomies compared to 2.1 for the placebo group during weeks 0-36.

Divesiran dosing regimens

• ▪The Phase 2 SANRECO trial evaluated subcutaneous doses of 6 mg/kg of divesiran administered either every six weeks or every twelve weeks over a 36-week placebo-controlled period.
• ▪In the Phase 2 SANRECO trial, patients receiving divesiran every six weeks achieved a 93.8% response rate, while those dosed every twelve weeks achieved an 81.3% response rate.

Polycythemia vera treatment

• ▪Divesiran has been granted Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations by the FDA for the treatment of polycythemia vera.
• ▪Divesiran is an investigational siRNA therapy designed to silence the TMPRSS6 gene in the liver, which increases hepcidin production to restrict iron availability and reduce red blood cell production.

Phase 3 development plans

• ▪Silence Therapeutics anticipates initiating a Phase 3 trial in the first half of 2027 to evaluate divesiran administered every twelve weeks versus placebo in patients with polycythemia vera.
• ▪Following the completion of the 36-week placebo-controlled portion of the SANRECO trial, all 48 patients entered a three-year double-blind and open-label extension period.

Stock price surge

• ▪Silence Therapeutics shares surged as much as 41% to a 52-week high on August 10, 2026, following the release of the positive Phase 2 divesiran data and quarterly financial results.
• ▪Silence Therapeutics reported a quarterly net loss alongside a strong liquidity profile, including a current ratio of approximately 11 and a quick ratio of approximately 7.