Summary: Disc Medicine legal chief Rahul Khara sold 2,853 shares of common stock on February 17, 2026 at $62.86 per share, for a total of $179,339, to satisfy tax withholding tied to vested restricted stock units. After the sale Khara directly holds 52,173 shares. The trade took place while the stock experienced recent volatility and amid regulatory uncertainty over the company’s erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) therapy, bitopertin.
Rahul Khara, Disc Medicine’s Chief Legal Officer, executed a sale of 2,853 common shares on February 17, 2026 at $62.86 per share, producing gross proceeds of $179,339. The filing states the disposition was made to cover tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of restricted stock units. Following the transaction Khara retains direct ownership of 52,173 shares in the company.
The share disposal comes as IRON has traded with noticeable volatility. The stock has declined nearly 9% over the past week and sits down 17.4% year-to-date. At the time the reported sale was noted, the market price quoted for IRON was $65.56, modestly above the transaction price recorded for Khara’s sale.
Analyst coverage summarized in InvestingPro data shows price targets spanning from $75 up to $128, indicating continued optimism among some sell-side analysts even as the company’s Fair Value assessment suggests the current market price may be somewhat elevated. InvestingPro also highlights Disc Medicine’s balance-sheet strengths - a current ratio of 23.45 and a cash position exceeding total debt - while noting the company has not yet reached profitability. For subscribers, a more extensive evaluation is available through InvestingPro’s Research Report, one among more than 1,400 detailed company assessments.
Parallel to the insider sale, Disc Medicine has been managing a substantive regulatory development tied to bitopertin, its investigational treatment for erythropoietic protoporphyria. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Complete Response Letter that delays potential approval and commercialization of the therapy, requesting additional data from the ongoing Phase 3 APOLLO study before a final determination can be made.
In its communication the FDA acknowledged that bitopertin has demonstrated a significant reduction in PPIX levels. However, prior trials did not establish a clear connection between that biochemical improvement and clinical outcomes related to sunlight exposure, prompting the agency’s request for supplemental Phase 3 evidence.
Market participants reacted to the FDA action and updates from analysts. Stifel and Cantor Fitzgerald reduced their price targets to $110 and $125, respectively, while keeping their positive ratings - Buy for Stifel and Overweight for Cantor Fitzgerald. BMO Capital reiterated an Outperform rating and maintained a $120 price target, expressing continued confidence in the therapy’s prospects for eventual approval. These analyst moves and the regulatory update have contributed to the observable swings in Disc Medicine’s share price.
Investors assessing Disc Medicine’s valuation can use tools such as the Fair Value calculator referenced by InvestingPro, which applies a combination of established industry valuation models. That assessment and the range of analyst price targets provide differing perspectives on whether IRON is attractively priced given current information about liquidity, profitability, and regulatory milestones.
Key points
- Insider sale: Chief Legal Officer Rahul Khara sold 2,853 shares on February 17, 2026 at $62.86 per share to cover tax withholding related to vested restricted stock units.
- Regulatory uncertainty: The FDA issued a Complete Response Letter for bitopertin, requesting additional Phase 3 APOLLO data despite acknowledging reductions in PPIX levels.
- Financial posture and market view: Analysts’ price targets range from $75 to $128; the company shows strong liquidity with a current ratio of 23.45 and more cash than debt, but remains unprofitable.
Risks and uncertainties
- Regulatory risk - The FDA has delayed potential approval of bitopertin and asked for more Phase 3 data, creating uncertainty for the drug’s timeline and commercial prospects; this primarily affects healthcare and biotech investors.
- Market volatility risk - Recent share-price swings and year-to-date declines could increase downside exposure for equity holders and influence trading behavior in healthcare and small-cap biotech names.
- Profitability risk - Despite a strong liquidity position, Disc Medicine is not profitable, which may affect investor sentiment and valuation until commercial revenues or clear clinical progress materialize; this impacts financial markets assessing biotech valuations.