On August 8, 2024 Scholar Rock (NASDAQ: SRRK), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing innovative treatments for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), cardiometabolic disorders, and other serious diseases where protein growth factors play a fundamental role, reported financial results and corporate updates for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 (Press release, Scholar Rock, AUG 8, 2024, View Source [SID1234645625]).
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"Scholar Rock continues to execute across our portfolio of highly selective myostatin inhibition programs, further cementing our position as the global leader in harnessing the life-changing potential of TGF-beta superfamily biology," said Jay Backstrom, M.D., MPH, President & Chief Executive Officer of Scholar Rock. "With the only muscle-targeted program to demonstrate clinical proof-of-concept in SMA, our confidence in our lead program apitegromab continues to be supported by the clinical data generated over the past four years. At 48 months, over 90% of TOPAZ patients with nonambulatory SMA remained on apitegromab treatment on top of SMN therapy and we continued to observe sustained clinical benefit. We look forward to reporting topline data from the Phase 3 SAPPHIRE trial of apitegromab in SMA in the fourth quarter of this year."
Dr. Backstrom continued, "In addition, we are pleased with the progress of our cardiometabolic program. The enrollment of the Phase 2 proof-of-concept EMBRAZE study evaluating apitegromab in obesity has been advancing ahead of schedule and as a result, we are updating our guidance for topline data to the second quarter of 2025. We also presented new preclinical data supporting SRK-439’s potential to help patients retain lean muscle mass at our investor event in May and at the ADA 84th Scientific Sessions in June. The hallmark of our approach in designing both apitegromab and SRK-439 is the exquisite selectivity for pro- and latent forms of myostatin. Our data in SMA suggest that this selectivity matters for patients, and we are excited to show how SRK-439 can become an integral component of the treatment and management of obesity helping to preserve lean muscle mass for sustainable and healthy weight loss management."
Company Highlights and Upcoming Milestones
SMA Program
Apitegromab is an investigational, fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits myostatin activation by selectively binding the pro- and latent forms of myostatin in skeletal muscle and is being developed as a potential first muscle-targeted therapy for the treatment of SMA. Apitegromab is the only muscle-targeted therapy to show clinical proof-of-concept in SMA.
● On track to report topline data from Phase 3 SAPPHIRE clinical trial in 4Q 2024. If the trial is successful and apitegromab is approved, the Company expects to initiate a commercial product launch in 2025.
● Reported that long-term apitegromab data continued to show substantial and sustained motor function improvements over 48 months1. The mean change in Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale (HFMSE) from baseline in nonambulatory patients (ages 2-21) on combination therapy (nusinersen and 20 mg/kg of apitegromab) was 5.3 points (95% CI: 1.5, 9.2; n=23), and for patients 2-12 was 6.4 points (95% CI: 1.8, 11.0, n=19). The mean change in RULM for the 2-21 age group was 3.6 points (95% CI: 2.0, 5.3; N=22) and for the 2-12 age group was 4.5 (95% CI: 2.7, 6.3; n=18). Of the 35 participants in the pooled nonambulatory population, 33 remained in the study over 4 years. The data analysis excluded the scores of 11 patients after undergoing scoliosis surgery, a known confounding factor for motor function assessment. Additional details will be discussed on the conference call this morning.
12-Month Data
24-Month Data
36-Month Data
48-Month Data
Age 2-21 Years Mean Change from Baseline in HFMSE (95% Confidence Interval)
3.6 points
(1.2, 6.0)
n=32
4.2 points
(1.9, 6.6)
n=29
4.0 points
(1.0, 6.9)
n=28
5.3 points
(1.5, 9.2)
n=23
Age 2-12 Years Mean Change from Baseline in HFMSE (95% Confidence Interval)
4.6 points
(1.8, 7.4)
n=26
5.2 points
(2.3, 8.0)
n=23
4.8 points
(1.3, 8.3)
n=23
6.4 points
(1.8, 11.0)
n=19
Age 2-21 Years Mean Change from Baseline in
RULM (95% Confidence Interval)
1.3 points
(0.2, 2.3)
n=31
2.3 points
(1.2, 3.3)
n=31
2.4 points
(1.1, 3.7)
n=27
3.6 points
(2.0, 5.3)
n=22
Age 2-12 Years Mean Change from Baseline in
RULM (95% Confidence Interval)
1.2 points
(0.1, 2.4)
n=25
2.2 points
(1.0, 3.5)
n=25
2.8 points
(1.4, 4.2)
n=22
4.5 points
(2.7, 6.3)
n=18
1. For the 48-month evaluation, an observed case analysis was conducted using available data by analysis timepoint, censoring any HFMSE and RULM assessments after the patient received scoliosis surgery. The analysis population pooled the nonambulatory patients (Cohorts 2 and 3) and included patients receiving either low dose (2 mg/kg) or high dose (20 mg/kg) apitegromab (inclusive of patients in Cohort 3 who switched from 2 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg in Year 2). A total of 11 patients in the population had scoliosis surgery during the study and their data was excluded from any HFMSE or RULM assessments at 48 months. Visit windows were applied to utilize data from unscheduled or early termination visits if the patient was missing the HFMSE or RULM total score at the scheduled visit.
● The ONYX open-label, multicenter extension study is ongoing. The extension study is evaluating the long-term safety and efficacy of apitegromab in patients with Type 2 and Type 3 SMA who completed the TOPAZ or SAPPHIRE trials. More than 90 percent of patients on combination therapy in the TOPAZ study have completed 4 years of apitegromab treatment and enrolled into ONYX.
Cardiometabolic Program
SRK-439 is a novel, preclinical, investigational myostatin inhibitor that has high in vitro affinity for pro- and latent myostatin and maintains myostatin specificity (i.e., no GDF11 or Activin A binding), and is initially being developed for the treatment of obesity.
● Presented preclinical data from the SRK-439 program. In May, the Company announced new preclinical data comparing SRK-439 and an anti-activin receptor II (anti-ActRII) antibody that supported SRK-439’s potential as best in class in preserving lean muscle mass in patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). In June, the company presented new preclinical data at the American Diabetes Association 84th Scientific Sessions supporting the potential of SRK-439 to increase lean mass and contribute to a favorable body composition following withdrawal from GLP-1 RA treatment.
● Initiated Phase 2 EMBRAZE proof-of-concept trial with apitegromab in combination with a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) in obesity in May. The Phase 2 trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center study to evaluate the effect of apitegromab, a highly selective investigational myostatin inhibitor, to preserve muscle mass as an adjunctive therapy in overweight and obese adults who are taking a GLP-1 RA. Data are expected in the second quarter of 2025 and will be used to guide clinical development of SRK-439. The Company plans to file an IND for SRK-439 for the treatment of obesity in 2025.
Other Pipeline Updates
● New SRK-181 data from the Phase 1 DRAGON proof-of-concept trial presented at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in June. SRK-181 is an investigational selective inhibitor of latent TGFβ-1 activation and developed with the aim of overcoming resistance to checkpoint therapy in patients with advanced cancer. Clinical data showed encouraging responses in heavily pretreated and anti-PD-(L)1 resistant patients across multiple tumor types. Enrollment of the DRAGON trial was completed in December 2023, and patients who remain on the study continue to be treated.
● Published data on SRK-373 was featured on the cover of Science Signaling in July. The article describes the selectivity of SRK-373 for LTBP-presented TGFβ-1, as well as efficacy data from two preclinical models that establish the feasibility of selectively targeting this particular form of TGFβ-1 for the treatment of fibrosis. SRK-373 is an investigational selective inhibitor of matrix associated TGFβ-1 in development for the treatment of fibrosis.
Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results
For the quarter ended June 30, 2024, net loss was $58.5 million or $0.60 per share compared to a net loss of $37.9 million or $0.47 per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
● The Company did not record any revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 or for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
● Research and development expense was $42.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to $26.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. The increase was primarily attributable to clinical trial and employee compensation costs.
● General and administrative expense was $17.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to $12.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. The increase was due to employee-related costs.
● As of June 30, 2024, Scholar Rock had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of approximately $190.5 million, which is expected to fund the Company’s anticipated operating and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2025.
"Our year-to-date progress across our pipeline of industry-leading myostatin inhibition programs, combined with our highly experienced and disciplined team, provides us with a robust foundation for growth as we advance towards multiple milestones and our potential evolution into a commercial-stage company," said Ted Myles, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Scholar Rock.
Conference Call Information
Management will provide an update on the Company and discuss second quarter 2024 results via conference call on Thursday, August 8 at 8:15 am ET. To access the live conference call, participants may register here. The live audio webcast of the call will be available under "Events and Presentations" in the Investor Relations section of the Scholar Rock website at View Source To participate via telephone, please register in advance here. Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including the dial-in number along with a unique passcode and registrant ID that can be used to access the call. An archived replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website for approximately 90 days.
About Apitegromab
Apitegromab is an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody inhibiting myostatin activation by selectively binding the pro- and latent forms of myostatin in the skeletal muscle. It is the first muscle-targeted treatment candidate to demonstrate clinical proof-of-concept in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Myostatin, a member of the TGFβ superfamily of growth factors, is expressed primarily by skeletal muscle cells, and the absence of its gene is associated with an increase in muscle mass and strength in multiple animal species, including humans. Scholar Rock believes that its highly selective targeting of pro- and latent forms of myostatin with apitegromab may lead to a clinically meaningful improvement in motor function in patients with SMA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track, Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease designations, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted Priority Medicines (PRIME) and Orphan Medicinal Product designations, to apitegromab for the treatment of SMA. The efficacy and safety of apitegromab have not been established and apitegromab has not been approved for any use by the FDA or any other regulatory agency.
About the Phase 3 SAPPHIRE Trial
SAPPHIRE is an ongoing randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of apitegromab in nonambulatory patients with Types 2 and 3 SMA who are receiving SMN-targeted therapy (either nusinersen or risdiplam). SAPPHIRE targeted enrolling approximately 156 patients aged 2-12 years old in the main efficacy population. These patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive for 12 months either apitegromab 10 mg/kg, apitegromab 20 mg/kg, or placebo by intravenous (IV) infusion every 4 weeks. An exploratory population that targeted enrolling up to 48 patients aged 13-21 years old will also separately be evaluated. These patients were randomized 2:1 to receive either apitegromab 20 mg/kg or placebo. For more information about SAPPHIRE, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov. Apitegromab has not been approved for any use by the US FDA or any other health authority, and its safety and efficacy have not been established.
About EMBRAZE
EMBRAZE is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of apitegromab in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of >27 (overweight) or a BMI of >30 (obese) and taking a GLP-1 RA (tirzepatide or semaglutide). The target enrollment of EMBRAZE is 100 subjects aged 18-65 who are overweight or obese without diabetes. As part of the study design, the treatment period is 24 weeks, and all subjects will receive a GLP-1 RA. In addition, all subjects will be randomized 1:1 to receive either apitegromab or placebo by intravenous (IV) infusion every four weeks during the 24-week treatment period. The primary endpoint is change from baseline at Week 24 in lean mass assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Secondary endpoints include additional weight loss measures, safety and tolerability, and pharmacokinetic outcomes. Exploratory endpoints at Weeks 24 and 32 include cardiometabolic parameters (e.g. HbA1c), body composition, and physical function.
About SRK-439
SRK-439 is a novel, preclinical, investigational myostatin inhibitor that has high in vitro affinity for pro- and latent myostatin and maintains myostatin specificity (i.e., no GDF11 or Activin-A binding), and is initially being developed for the treatment of cardiometabolic disorders, including obesity. Based on preclinical data, SRK-439 has the potential to support healthier weight management by preserving lean mass during weight loss. The efficacy and safety of SRK-439 have not been established and SRK-439 has not been approved for any use by the FDA or any other regulatory agency.