Latest news with #Disc
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Disc Medicine Presents Positive Clinical Data Updates Across Portfolio at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2025 Annual Congress
Positive updates across all programs, including longer term efficacy and safety data from the HELIOS open-label extension trial of bitopertin in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), additional durability data from Phase 1b study of DISC-0974 in anemia of myelofibrosis (MF), and additional data from DISC-3405 studies in healthy volunteers Management to host a corporate update conference call on Monday, June 16 at 8:00 am ET / 2:00 pm CEST WATERTOWN, Mass., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Disc Medicine, Inc. (NASDAQ:IRON), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from serious hematologic diseases, today spotlights 5 posters presented at the EHA 2025 annual meeting in Milan, Italy. This year's presentations included data from HELIOS, an ongoing open-label extension study of bitopertin in EPP, which showed favorable long-term efficacy and safety with sustained protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) reductions, improvement in quality of life, and improved liver biomarkers. Disc is advancing development and registrational activities for bitopertin in EPP, with plans to submit an NDA in H2 2025. The company has initiated APOLLO, a confirmatory clinical trial of bitopertin in adults and adolescents with EPP. Disc recently launched a campaign to raise awareness of EPP among physicians, patients, and caregivers with emphasis on the causative role of PPIX accumulation in the disease. Learn more at Disc also presented longer term data from the continuation phase of its Phase 1b trial in MF anemia, showing sustained activity on key biomarkers and durable anemia response among major responders. Enrollment for the Phase 2 RALLY-MF trial of DISC-0974 is ongoing with the exploratory cohort for patients on concomitant momelotinib or pacritinib fully enrolled. The company expects to present initial RALLY-MF data in H2 2025. Additionally, Disc shared an update of the Phase 1 healthy volunteer trial of DISC-3405, initially presented at ASH 2024, which demonstrated deep, sustained reductions in serum iron and meaningful changes in hematologic parameters, establishing proof of mechanism. Based on these data, the company has initiated a Phase 2 trial of DISC-3405 in polycythemia vera (PV). Disc also presented an iron pulse study of DISC-3405 in healthy volunteers which showed inhibition of dietary iron uptake, further confirming the mechanism of action and supporting DISC-3405's potential in diseases of iron overload. The collection of data presented at EHA adds to the evidence base supporting Disc's continued advancement of all three clinical candidates and provides support for expansion opportunities in new indications. Management will host a call to review these updates on June 16 at 8:00 am ET. Please register for the event on the Events and Presentations page of Disc's website ( Bitopertin, DISC-0974, and DISC-3405 are investigational agents and are not approved for use as therapies in any jurisdiction worldwide. Summary of Poster Presentations Bitopertin: HELIOS: HELIOS is an ongoing Phase 2, open-label, long-term extension trial that enrolled 86 adult and adolescent patients with EPP from the BEACON and AURORA trials. Patients were randomized to receive 20 mg or 60 mg bitopertin in BEACON and 20 mg or 60 mg bitopertin or placebo in AURORA, with all patients transitioning to a 60 mg daily dose of bitopertin in HELIOS. Longer term treatment with bitopertin was associated with sustained reductions in the disease-causing toxin PPIX, with additional benefit for patients receiving the 60 mg dose continuously Continuous treatment with 60 mg of bitopertin reduced ALT and other exploratory hepatobiliary biomarkers Nearly all participants reported substantial improvements in quality of life measures Bitopertin exhibited a favorable longer-term safety profile with up to 2+ years of exposure and similar safety across adults and adolescents with EPP and XLP DISC-0974: DISC-0974 Phase 1b in MF anemia: Data from the continuation phase of the Phase 1b trial of DISC-0974 in MF anemia as of October 2024 were presented. This multi-center, open-label trial included patients who were: non-transfusion dependent receiving no transfusions (nTD, n=23), transfusion dependent with low transfusion burden (TD Low, n=5) and transfusion dependent with high transfusion burden (TD High, n=7). The trial was comprised of both patients receiving concomitant JAK inhibitor therapy (n=13) and not receiving JAK inhibitor therapy (n=22). DISC-0974 was administered subcutaneously at 14 mg (n=1), 28 mg (n=7), 50 mg (n=12), 75 mg (n=9), or 100 mg (n=6) every 4 weeks for up to 6 treatments. Long-term results demonstrated: Sustained hepcidin suppression, iron mobilization, and reduction in Zinc PPIX, a measure of iron restricted hemoglobin production nTD patients: 50% of evaluable patients achieved major response of sustained mean hemoglobin increase of ≥1.5 g/dL Hematologic improvement was durable through the continuation phase TD Low patients: 80% of evaluable patients achieved major response of transfusion independence over 16 weeks Hematologic improvement was durable, and all major responders remained transfusion independent during the continuation phase TD High patients: 40% of evaluable patients achieved major response of transfusion independence over 12 weeks 1 of 2 patients with a major response entered the continuation phase and remained transfusion independent at Day 225, with follow-up ongoing DISC-0974 was safe and well-tolerated at all evaluated dose levels DISC-0974 in combination with luspatercept and ESA (mouse model): The effect of DISC-0974, luspatercept, and ESA as single agents and DISC-0974 combined with luspatercept or ESA on hematological parameters in wild type mice was evaluated. Results showed: Treatment with DBIO-100 (a mouse analog of DISC-0974) suppressed hepcidin, enhanced iron availability, and boosted erythropoiesis in wild-type mice Combining with DPO (ESA) or RAP-536 (mouse analog of luspatercept) led to additional hematological benefits beyond those agents alone These results demonstrate that DISC-0974 has a distinct mechanism of action among anemia-targeted agents and highlight the potential for synergistic anemia benefits when combining DISC-0974 with other anemia-targeted agents. DISC-3405: Phase 1 Healthy Volunteer Study: Updated SAD/MAD data from the Phase 1 trial of DISC-3405 in healthy volunteers were presented. In the SAD portion of this trial, healthy males and females ages 18 to 65 were given a single dose of placebo (n=10) or DISC-3405 at 75 mg intravenously (IV) (n=6), 37.5 mg subcutaneously (SC) (n=6), 75 mg SC (n=6), 150 mg SC (n=6), or 300 mg SC (n=6). The MAD portion included placebo (n=4), 75 mg SC (n=6), and 150 mg SC (n=6) cohorts dosed every 4 weeks for a total of 2 doses. Consistent with data presented at ASH 2024, results showed: DISC-3405 produced dose-related increases in serum hepcidin with corresponding reductions in serum iron across all dose levels DISC-3405 resulted in deep reductions in serum iron (ranging from 50-80% from baseline) that were sustained and support a once-monthly SC dosing regimen Single and repeat dosing of DISC-3405 demonstrated meaningful reductions in hematologic parameters, including reticulocyte hemoglobin, hemoglobin, and hematocrit DISC-3405 was generally well-tolerated at all evaluated dose levels, with no serious adverse events (AEs), greater than Grade 2 AEs, or AEs leading to study withdrawal These results provide proof of mechanism and support the advancement DISC-3405 into proof of concept studies. Disc has now initiated a Phase 2 trial of DISC-3405 in PV with initial results expected in 2026. Iron Pulse Study: Disc conducted an iron pulse study in healthy volunteers to evaluate the effectiveness of DISC-3405 in inhibiting dietary iron uptake. N=8 healthy volunteers received placebo treatment followed by oral ferrous sulfate tablets on two sequential occasions to establish baseline iron absorption profiles. Participants were then given a single 150mg IV dose of DISC-3405, followed by oral ferrous sulfate 'iron pulses' on the 2nd and 15th days following treatment. DISC-3405 resulted in an average 94% reduction in iron absorption at Day 2 and 68% at Day 15. These results confirm the mechanism of DISC-3405 and demonstrate its ability to block dietary iron absorption, supporting the potential for treating diseases associated with iron overload. About Disc Medicine Disc Medicine is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing novel treatments for patients who suffer from serious hematologic diseases. We are building a portfolio of innovative, potentially first-in-class therapeutic candidates that aim to address a wide spectrum of hematologic diseases by targeting fundamental biological pathways of red blood cell biology, specifically heme biosynthesis and iron homeostasis. For more information, please visit Disc Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, express or implied statements regarding Disc's expectations with respect to the next stages of its development programs for bitopertin, DISC-0974 and DISC-3405, including projected timelines for the initiation and completion of its clinical trials, anticipated timing of release of data, and other clinical activities; the registrational pathway for bitopertin, including the timing of a potential NDA submission; and the potential of its development programs in new indications. The use of words such as, but not limited to, 'believe,' 'expect,' 'estimate,' 'project,' 'intend,' 'future,' 'potential,' 'continue,' 'may,' 'might,' 'plan,' 'will,' 'should,' 'seek,' 'anticipate,' or 'could' or the negative of these terms and other similar words or expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on Disc's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of Disc's business, future plans and strategies, clinical results and other future conditions. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. Disc may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of material risks and uncertainties including but not limited to: the adequacy of Disc's capital to support its future operations and its ability to successfully initiate and complete clinical trials; the nature, strategy and focus of Disc; the difficulty in predicting the time and cost of development of Disc's product candidates; Disc's plans to research, develop and commercialize its current and future product candidates; the timing of initiation of Disc's planned preclinical studies and clinical trials; the timing of the availability of data from Disc's clinical trials; Disc's ability to identify additional product candidates with significant commercial potential and to expand its pipeline in hematological diseases; the timing and anticipated results of Disc's preclinical studies and clinical trials and the risk that the results of Disc's preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of future results in connection with future studies or clinical trials and may not support further development and marketing approval; and the other risks and uncertainties described in Disc's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the 'Risk Factors' section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. None of Disc, nor its affiliates, advisors or representatives, undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Media Contact Peg RusconiDeerfield Investor Relations Contact Christina TartagliaPrecision in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Disc Medicine Announces Multiple Presentations Across Portfolio at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2025 Congress
Poster presentations across all programs, including data from HELIOS long-term extension trial of bitopertin in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), additional durability data from Phase 1b study of DISC-0974 in anemia of myelofibrosis (MF), and additional data from DISC-3405 studies in healthy volunteers Management will host a corporate update conference call on Monday June 16 at 8:00 am ET / 2:00 pm CEST WATERTOWN, Mass., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Disc Medicine, Inc. (NASDAQ:IRON), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from serious hematologic diseases, today announced that it will present data from multiple programs in its hematology portfolio at the upcoming European Hematology Association (EHA) 2025 Congress, which will be held in Milan, Italy on June 12-15, 2025. 'As we progress toward major company milestones in the second half of 2025, this year's EHA presentations showcase steady progress across our pipeline,' said John Quisel, J.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Disc. 'We plan to share data from the HELIOS long-term extension trial, further supporting bitopertin's potential profile as the first disease-modifying treatment for EPP. We'll also present additional durability data and new analyses from the Phase 1b study of DISC-0974 in patients with MF anemia, along with new data from DISC-3405 in healthy volunteers that supports its progression into a Phase 2 study in polycythemia vera in the first half of this year and its broader potential in diseases of iron overload.' Management will host a call to review the presented data on June 16 at 8:00 am ET. Please register for the event on the Events and Presentations page of Disc's website ( Details of Presentations and Abstracts The full abstracts are now available through the EHA conference website. Pursuant to Disc Medicine practice, the abstracts published today contain previously presented data, and new data and analyses are reserved for presentation at the conference. Bitopertin Poster Presentations: Abstract Number: PS2210Title: Results from the HELIOS Study: A Phase 2, Open-Label, Long-Term Extension Study of Bitopertin in Erythropoietic ProtoporphyriaDate / Time: Saturday, June 14, 6:30 pm CEST / 12:30 pm ETPresenting Author: Melanie Chin DISC-0974 Poster Presentations: Abstract Number: PF856Title: A Phase 1b/2 Study of DISC-0974, An Anti-Hemojuvelin Antibody, In Patients with Myelofibrosis and AnemiaDate / Time: Friday, June 13, 6:30 pm CEST / 12:30 pm ETPresenting Author: Sima Bhatt Abstract Number: PS1845Title: DISC-0974 (An Anti-Hemojuvelin Antibody) in Non-Transfusion-Dependent Patients with Myelofibrosis: Laboratory Correlates of Major Anemia ResponseDate / Time: Saturday, June 14, 6:30 pm CEST / 12:30 pm ETPresenting Author: Ayalew Tefferi Abstract Number: PS1814Title: Anti-Hemojuvelin Monoclonal Antibody Further Enhances Hematologic Response to ESA and/or Luspatercept in Mice Date / Time: Saturday, June 14, 6:30 pm CEST / 12:30 pm ETPresenting Author: Min Wu DISC-3405 Poster Presentations: Abstract Number: PF1216Title: An Iron Pulse Study to Assess Oral Iron Absorption Following Treatment with DISC-3405 in Healthy Volunteers Date / Time: Friday, June 13, 6:30 pm CEST / 12:30 pm ETPresenting Author: Guowen Liu Abstract Number: PS2207Title: Single- and Multiple- Ascending Doses of DISC-3405, A Recombinant Humanized Antibody Targeting TMPRSS6, Increased Hepcidin and Reduced Iron and Hematocrit in Healthy Volunteers Date / Time: Saturday, June 14, 6:30 pm CEST / 12:30 pm ETPresenting Author: Marcus Carden About Disc Medicine Disc Medicine (NASDAQ:IRON) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing novel treatments for patients who suffer from serious hematologic diseases. We are building a portfolio of innovative, potentially first-in-class therapeutic candidates that aim to address a wide spectrum of hematologic diseases by targeting fundamental biological pathways of red blood cell biology, specifically heme biosynthesis and iron homeostasis. For more information, please visit Disc Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, express or implied statements regarding: Disc's future product development plans and projected timelines for the presentation of data, initiation and completion of preclinical and clinical trials and other activities. The use of words such as, but not limited to, 'believe,' 'expect,' 'estimate,' 'project,' 'intend,' 'future,' 'potential,' 'continue,' 'may,' 'might,' 'plan,' 'will,' 'should,' 'seek,' 'anticipate,' or 'could' or the negative of these terms and other similar words or expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on Disc's current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of Disc's business, future plans and strategies, clinical results and other future conditions. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. Disc may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of material risks and uncertainties including but not limited to: the adequacy of Disc's capital to support its future operations and its ability to successfully initiate and complete clinical trials; the nature, strategy and focus of Disc; the difficulty in predicting the time and cost of development of Disc's product candidates; Disc's plans to research, develop and commercialize its current and future product candidates; the timing of initiation of Disc's planned preclinical studies and clinical trials; the timing of the availability of data from Disc's clinical trials; Disc's ability to identify additional product candidates with significant commercial potential and to expand its pipeline in hematological diseases; the timing and anticipated results of Disc's preclinical studies and clinical trials and the risk that the results of Disc's preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of future results in connection with future studies or clinical trials and may not support further development and marketing approval; and the other risks and uncertainties described in Disc's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the 'Risk Factors' section of Disc's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. None of Disc, nor its affiliates, advisors or representatives, undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Media Contact Peg Rusconi Deerfield Group Investor Relations Contact Christina TartagliaPrecision AQ
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
Crime grew by 1.5% in last year, police stats show
An increase in shoplifting and drug trafficking contributed to a rise in crime across Oxfordshire over the past year. Crime in the county rose by 1.5% between April 2024 and January 2025 compared to the previous year, according to figures released by Thames Valley Police (TVP). The steepest rise was in the robbery of business properties, which jumped by 200% compared with the previous year. Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber said the "general crime trend" in Oxfordshire was "downwards". "Some types of crime have gone up, as reporting has also increased, which I have encouraged and that resulted in more criminals being brought to justice," he said. He said TVP had "invested heavily" in tackling shoplifting and robberies of business premises, and "as a consequence there is confidence that these crimes should be reported and dealt with and that the policies we put in place have been effective". "There is more work to do, and that's why I have been encouraging people to report crime and anti-social behaviour in their communities, so action can be taken," the PCC added. The statistics show the number of drug trafficking offenses across the county doubled over the period. Shoplifting also rose by a third. TVP launched a new Retail Crime Strategy, developed jointly with retailers and businesses, aimed at tackling the offenses in January last year. As part of the strategy, the force launched a free app called Disc, which allows retailers to report and access information about crimes such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. Mr Barber said the strategy had contributed to a the number of charges for shoplifting offences doubling in the Thames Valley. Although the force statistics show a general increase in the number of crimes reported, some offences decreased. One of the biggest falls was in vehicle thefts, with a 20% drop compared to the previous year. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Shoplifting charges increased by 98% - police chief Force claims progress on knife and sexual violence Police strategy promises shoplifting crackdown Thames Valley Police
BBC News
03-03-2025
- BBC News
Oxfordshire crime grew by 1.5% in last year, police stats show
An increase in shoplifting and drug trafficking contributed to a rise in crime across Oxfordshire over the past in the county rose by 1.5% between April 2024 and January 2025 compared to the previous year, according to figures released by Thames Valley Police (TVP).The steepest rise was in the robbery of business properties, which jumped by 200% compared with the previous Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber said the "general crime trend" in Oxfordshire was "downwards". "Some types of crime have gone up, as reporting has also increased, which I have encouraged and that resulted in more criminals being brought to justice," he said TVP had "invested heavily" in tackling shoplifting and robberies of business premises, and "as a consequence there is confidence that these crimes should be reported and dealt with and that the policies we put in place have been effective"."There is more work to do, and that's why I have been encouraging people to report crime and anti-social behaviour in their communities, so action can be taken," the PCC statistics show the number of drug trafficking offenses across the county doubled over the also rose by a launched a new Retail Crime Strategy, developed jointly with retailers and businesses, aimed at tackling the offenses in January last part of the strategy, the force launched a free app called Disc, which allows retailers to report and access information about crimes such as shoplifting and anti-social Barber said the strategy had contributed to a the number of charges for shoplifting offences doubling in the Thames the force statistics show a general increase in the number of crimes reported, some offences of the biggest falls was in vehicle thefts, with a 20% drop compared to the previous year. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Boston Globe
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Gene Barge, R&B saxophonist who played on landmark hits, dies at 98
Galvanized by Mr. Barge's moaning tenor saxophone, 'C.C. Rider' reached No. 1 on the R&B chart in 1957 and stalled just outside the Top 10 on the pop chart. In 1963, Mr. Barge was featured on Jimmy Soul's calypso-derived 'If You Wanna Be Happy,' a No. 1 pop and R&B hit. Mr. Barge also played the wailing tenor part on Fontella Bass's 'Rescue Me' (1965) and supplied the rhythmic drive, with members of the Motown house band the Funk Brothers, for Jackie Wilson's 'Your Love Keeps Lifting Me (Higher and Higher)' (1967). Both records topped the R&B chart and crossed over to become Top 10 pop hits. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Enter Email Sign Up His greatest acclaim, though, came in 1961 with 'Quarter to Three,' a No. 1 pop single recorded with the R&B shouter Gary U.S. Bonds. Hoping to capitalize on the success of 'New Orleans,' his first big hit, Bonds created 'Quarter to Three' by adding lyrics to 'A Night With Daddy G,' a churning instrumental that Mr. Barge had recently written and recorded with his band the Church Street Five. Advertisement 'Oh, don't you know that I danced/ I danced 'til a quarter to 3/ With the help, last night, of Daddy G,' Bonds sings on the opening chorus. ('A Night With Daddy G' would prove to be doubly auspicious when Dion borrowed its melody for 'Runaround Sue,' a finger-snapping wonder that topped the pop chart in late 1961.) Despite having the benefit of Mr. Barge's snaking saxophone runs — and despite the record's affinity with the twist dance craze of the day — 'Quarter to Three' was an unlikely sensation. Muffled and lo-fi, it sounded as if it had been recorded in a bathroom or a stairwell. 'This record is fuzzy, muzzy and distorted,' British television producer Jack Good wrote in a 1961 issue of Disc, the popular weekly music magazine. 'According to present-day technical standards it is appalling. However, for my money, the disc is not just good, it's sensational and revolutionary.' Advertisement An exuberant fusion of doo-wop, Black gospel, and incipient frat rock, 'Quarter to Three' not only inspired the big-beat rock 'n' roll of the Beatles and the garage-rock of bands like the Kingsmen and the Sir Douglas Quintet. It also provided a blueprint for the sax-and-vocal exchanges between Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen, a rapturous call and response that came to define the E Street Band, which often performed 'Quarter to Three' in concert. Breaking into pop music when the saxophone was ascendant (and before it was supplanted by the electric guitar), Mr. Barge was as distinctive and versatile a stylist as King Curtis, if less well known. Over six decades, he played on or produced records by Muddy Waters, the Chi-Lites, and the incendiary Detroit funk band Black Merda. He also toured with Ray Charles, Bo Diddley, and the Rolling Stones. James Gene Barge Jr. was born on Aug. 9, 1926, in Norfolk, Va., the oldest of eight children of James and Thelma (Edwards) Barge. His father played banjo and worked as a welder in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. His mother managed the home. Mr. Barge played clarinet in high school and took up the saxophone only after his father brought home a waterlogged tenor that he had found on a torpedo-damaged ship. He was 20 at the time and had just completed two years in the Army Air Forces. After graduating from West Virginia State College in 1950 with a degree in music, he taught high school and pursued music as an avocation. Jazz was a formative influence, especially the effervescent phrasing of the great tenor saxophonist Lester Young. Advertisement The first recordings Mr. Barge made under his own name were a pair of instrumentals for Checker, a subsidiary of Chess Records, in 1956. 'Country,' his first single, was a hit along the Eastern Seaboard. 'When Chess heard it, they said, 'What the hell is that?' Mr. Barge said of the record in a 2007 interview with Virginia Living magazine. 'They had never heard a saxophone sound like that before. They even gave it a word: funk. That was the reputation I got — that Gene Barge could play funky.' Around 1960 Mr. Barge began his brief but fruitful association with producer Frank Guida, whose Legrand label released 'A Night With Daddy G' and Bonds's early singles. Mr. Barge and Bonds had a second major hit together with 'School Is Out,' which reached the Top 10 in 1961. In 1964, as independent record labels with national distribution increasingly dominated regional markets, Mr. Barge abandoned teaching — and Norfolk's small Legrand imprint — and moved to Chicago to work for Chess Records. He played on R&B hits including Little Milton's 'Grits Ain't Groceries' and Koko Taylor's 'Wang Dang Doodle' and produced albums, including Buddy Guy's acclaimed 1967 effort, 'Left My Blues in San Francisco.' In the late 1960s, he also directed the musical ensemble of the Chicago chapter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Operation Breadbasket, an organization headed locally by the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Mr. Barge later ran the gospel division of Stax Records and, over the ensuing decades, worked as a freelance musician, producer, and arranger, most notably on Natalie Cole's Grammy-winning single 'Sophisticated Lady (She's a Different Lady).' In the late 1970s he took a detour into acting, eventually landing roles in Hollywood action thrillers 'Under Siege' (1992) and 'The Fugitive' (1993). Advertisement Mr. Barge remained active into the 2000s, serving as a consultant for Martin Scorsese's 2003 PBS documentary series 'The Blues' and playing on records including Public Enemy's 'Superman's Black in the Building' and with avant-garde jazz trumpeter Malachi Thompson. 'Gene Barge is the flyest octogenarian I know,' Chuck D of Public Enemy told Virginia Living in 2007. 'To go from Muddy Waters to Public Enemy is a good trick.' In addition to his daughter Gina, Mr. Barge leaves another daughter, Gail Florence; three siblings, Celestine Bailey, Kim Williamson, and Milton Barge; two grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. His wife, Sarah Barge, died in 2008. His first marriage ended in divorce. Mr. Barge's career might not have gotten off to the start it did with Chuck Willis's 'C.C. Rider' were it not for his patience and good humor. After playing the grinding riff on the demo that persuaded Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records to record it as a single, he was flown to New York for the session, only to find that another saxophonist had been hired instead. 'Ertegun and Wexler told me they were going to pay me, but they didn't want me to play,' Mr. Barge told Virginia Living. 'I went down to the liquor store, man, got me a pint and sat down on the floor to listen to them. They did 27 takes and weren't satisfied. So Chuck said, 'Look, why don't you let Gene run down one to get the feel?' So I ran down one and they said, 'Hold it, that's it, you got it. Let's cut it.'' Advertisement This article originally appeared in
