Step Pharma to Present First Dencatistat Phase 2 Data in Essential Thrombocythaemia at ASH

Step Pharma will present the first preliminary data from its ongoing phase 2 VECTRA trial of dencatistat in high-risk essential thrombocythaemia at the 68th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in New Orleans, the company said in a GlobeNewswire release on November 5, 2026. As of July 21, 2026, 10 of 12 evaluable participants, or 83%, achieved platelet normalisation.

Step Pharma's VECTRA Trial Results

Step Pharma is a French clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing dencatistat, a first-in-class oral CTPS1 inhibitor, for T cell and B cell lymphomas, CTPS2-null solid tumours and essential thrombocythaemia. Essential thrombocythaemia is a rare blood cancer marked by overproduction of platelets and a raised risk of thrombosis that can lead to stroke or heart attack.

The open-label VECTRA trial is evaluating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of dencatistat in up to 50 participants with high-risk ET across sites in the US, EU and UK. Its primary endpoints are efficacy, safety and tolerability, and secondary endpoints include durability of haematologic response and rates of thrombosis, haemorrhage and disease transformation.

All evaluable participants reached a platelet count below 600 ×10⁹/L, with a median maximal platelet reduction of 76% (range 22% to 86%) and no thromboembolic events. Nine participants, or 64%, had treatment-related adverse events, predominantly anaemia and nausea. "Further data will be presented at the meeting," the company said.

Dencatistat's Development and Financing

According to akta.pro company records, Step Pharma advanced dencatistat into a phase 2 trial for essential thrombocythaemia in June 2026, in patients who have not responded to or experienced side effects from currently available treatments. The same records show a €38 million Series C financing completed in October 2025, led by V-Bio Ventures with participation from Pontifax, Bpifrance, Kurma Partners, Hadean Ventures, Sunstone Life Science Ventures and Inserm Transfert Initiative.

ASH Presentations Across Haematology

Hemab Therapeutics will also present at the 68th ASH Annual Meeting, including first clinical results for sutacimig in Factor VII deficiency showing prothrombin time shortened by more than 50% after a single dose, Stock Titan reported on November 4, 2026. A DelveInsight report published November 3, 2026 covers 45+ companies developing 50+ drugs in sickle cell disease, with about 5 in late-stage development.

Dencatistat's ASH Presentation Date

Michael Loschi MD PhD will deliver the oral presentation on Monday, December 14, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 4:15 PM CT in Hall B at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The session is titled "Myeloproliferative Syndromes: Clinical and Epidemiological: Molecular Insights and New Approaches in MPNs." Further details of the VECTRA trial are listed on ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT06786234.