Disc Medicine Taps Veteran CHRO to Steer Commercial Launch

WATERTOWN, MA – January 12, 2026 – In a move that signals a decisive shift from clinical research to commercial reality, Disc Medicine, Inc. (NASDAQ:IRON) today announced the appointment of Lisa Amaya Price, MBA, as its first Chief Human Resources Officer. The hiring of a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in scaling biopharmaceutical companies underscores the Watertown-based firm's preparations for a potential U.S. product launch and its entry into the competitive commercial marketplace.

Disc Medicine, a company focused on novel treatments for serious hematologic diseases, is at a critical juncture. Its lead therapeutic candidate, bitopertin, is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare and debilitating genetic disorder. With the FDA having awarded the application a Commissioner's National Priority Review Voucher, a decision could arrive within an accelerated one-to-two-month timeframe, placing immense pressure on the organization to be ready for an immediate commercial rollout.

This strategic appointment is the clearest indicator yet that Disc is building the infrastructure necessary to support not just a successful drug launch, but sustained growth across its entire pipeline.

A Strategic Pivot Toward Commercialization

The creation of a C-suite human resources role and the selection of a leader like Ms. Amaya Price is a deliberate move to manage the complexities of rapid organizational scaling. As a clinical-stage company, Disc's focus has been primarily on research and development. Transitioning to a commercial entity requires a fundamentally different organizational structure, demanding a rapid and significant expansion of its workforce, particularly in sales, marketing, medical affairs, and market access.

“As we move towards commercialization, we have meaningfully increased hiring to support these efforts and Lisa will play a central role in building a strong, scalable organization by attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional talent across the business,” said John Quisel, J.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Disc. “Her leadership will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our capabilities and prepare the company for long-term success.”

Evidence of this hiring surge is already visible. The company is actively recruiting for multiple “Rare Disease Specialist” positions across the United States, roles explicitly described as playing a “pivotal role in our inaugural commercial launch.” This build-out of a national sales force is a classic sign of a company preparing to bring a product to market. The challenge is not merely filling seats, but finding, onboarding, and integrating highly specialized talent in a market where such professionals are in high demand.

Beyond the immediate launch of bitopertin, Disc is advancing a promising pipeline. Its candidate DISC-0974 is in a Phase 2 trial for anemia of myelofibrosis, with key data expected later this year. Another candidate, DISC-3405, is being studied for polycythemia vera. Successfully managing multiple late-stage clinical programs while simultaneously launching a new drug requires a robust and agile organization, a task that now falls squarely within Ms. Amaya Price's purview.

A Track Record Forged in Growth and Integration

For a company facing such a pivotal transition, Ms. Amaya Price’s background appears tailor-made for the challenges ahead. Her career is marked by leadership roles at biopharmaceutical companies during periods of intense growth, transformation, and integration. Most recently, she served as SVP and Chief HR Officer at Deciphera, where she was a key figure in managing the company's integration into ONO Pharmaceuticals.

Her experience extends to managing complex mergers and acquisitions, a highly relevant skill in the dynamic biotech sector. At Takeda Pharmaceuticals, she led organizational design and talent selection related to the massive acquisition of Shire Pharmaceuticals. She also served as the Global Head of Human Resources for Takeda's vaccine business unit, where she guided the strategic redesign of the division as it evolved from a research-focused group into a global commercial entity.

This pattern of steering organizations through the precise R&D-to-commercial transition that Disc now faces was also evident during her tenure at Scholar Rock and her eight years in progressively senior roles at Biogen. Her appointment is a clear signal that Disc’s board is not just planning for growth, but is proactively hiring a leader who has successfully navigated these complex waters multiple times.

“I am excited to join Disc at this pivotal time for the company. The opportunity to help build and scale a team while preparing to deliver a much-needed therapy to patients with significant unmet needs is incredibly motivating,” said Ms. Amaya Price in a statement. “I look forward to partnering across the organization to support our people and culture as we enter this next phase of growth.”

Competing in the High-Stakes Talent Arena

The biopharmaceutical industry is currently grappling with a significant talent shortage. Companies are in fierce competition for individuals with hybrid skill sets combining deep scientific knowledge with expertise in data analytics, regulatory affairs, and commercial operations. For a company like Disc, the ability to attract and, more importantly, retain top-tier talent is a critical competitive advantage that can determine the success or failure of a product launch.

This industry-wide challenge elevates the HR function from a traditional administrative department to a strategic C-suite imperative. The modern CHRO in biotech is responsible for building a resilient culture that can withstand the pressures of clinical setbacks and market volatility, designing an organization that can scale efficiently, and creating development pathways that keep top performers engaged.

To secure a leader with Ms. Amaya Price’s track record, Disc Medicine utilized a common but powerful tool in the biotech industry: a significant inducement equity award. Granted outside of the company's standard stock plan, the award consists of an option to purchase 37,500 shares of common stock and restricted stock unit awards for a total of 29,000 shares. These awards vest over several years, contractually aligning Ms. Amaya Price's long-term interests with the company's success and ensuring her leadership is retained through the crucial initial years of commercialization and beyond.