Study summary

A weekly injection that controls red cells without blood draws won FDA approval

VERIFY trial (rusfertide) · 293 people, phase 3 · FDA approved August 2026

What was tested

Rusfertide (Mimrylo), a hepcidin mimetic that limits the iron available to make red blood cells, against placebo, added to standard care for polycythemia vera in adults who needed frequent phlebotomies (blood removal).

What they found

• 76.9% needed no phlebotomy between weeks 20 and 32, vs 32.9% with placebo.
• The most common side effects were injection-site reactions and anemia.
• The label warns about rising platelet counts.

What it means

The first new type of drug for polycythemia vera in years, aimed at freeing people from repeated blood draws.