Fe-BBG

Fe-BBG is a small molecule coordination complex consisting of iron(III) bound to the tripodal tetradentate ligand N,N-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-L-glutamic acid (BBG). Developed by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General Brigham, Fe-BBG is designed as a direct-to-transferrin iron replacement therapy to treat iron restriction and anemias, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated anemia, anemia of inflammation, and iron-refractory iron-deficiency anemia (IRIDA). Pathologic iron restriction is often driven by elevated levels of hepcidin, which degrades the iron exporter ferroportin and blocks conventional oral or intravenous iron therapies. Fe-BBG bypasses this ferroportin blockade by donating iron directly to circulating transferrin with high specificity and optimized kinetics, while minimizing the release of toxic labile free iron and avoiding redox cycling.