Scholar Rock Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Highlights Business Progress
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Apitegromab BLA accepted under priority review for patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and FDA’s PDUFA date set for
September 22, 2025 ; commercial readiness progresses
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European Medicines Agency validated Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for apitegromab for patients with SMA
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Topline results from Phase 2 EMBRAZE proof-of-concept trial in adult patients with obesity on track for
June 2025
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Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of
$364.4 million as ofMarch 31, 2025 ; expected to support commercial and development programs into 2027
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Management to host update call today at
8:15 a.m. ET
“Scholar Rock is at an inflection point as we evolve to a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, and our team remains focused on key priorities in preparation for the potential
Company Highlights and Upcoming Milestones
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Program
Apitegromab is an investigational monoclonal antibody that inhibits myostatin activation by selectively binding the pro- and latent forms of myostatin in skeletal muscle. Apitegromab is the only muscle-targeted therapeutic candidate for patients with SMA to demonstrate statistically significant improvement and clinically meaningful benefit in a pivotal Phase 3 (SAPPHIRE) clinical trial.
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Granted priority review for BLA. In
March 2025 , the FDA accepted the Company’s BLA for apitegromab for people with SMA and granted the application Priority Review with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date ofSeptember 22, 2025 . In anticipation of potential regulatory approvals,Scholar Rock is planning for aU.S. commercial launch upon approval in 2025. -
Received validation for the Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) from the
European Medicines Agency (EMA). European launch of apitegromab is anticipated in 2026 upon approval. -
Advancing
U.S. commercial launch readiness, including hiring of customer-facing teams mid-year. -
Progressing launch preparedness in
Germany , the first European market targeted in 2026. Disease awareness and market access initiatives are underway across key European markets. -
Presented new clinical data from the Phase 3 SAPPHIRE clinical trial at the 2025
MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference . In addition to treatment with apitegromab achieving statistical significance and clinically meaningful motor function improvement on the SAPPHIRE trial’s primary endpoint (the gold standard Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded, or HFMSE), additional data demonstrated clinically meaningful and consistent benefit in motor function across pre-specified SMA patient subgroups (type of SMN-targeted therapy, age, age of initiation of SMN-therapy, and geography). Efficacy was also supported by additional pre-specified patient outcome measures of motor function, includingRevised Upper Limb Module (RULM) andWorld Health Organization (WHO ) motor development milestones. -
Expect to initiate the Phase 2 OPAL clinical trial in SMA in Q3 2025. The trial will evaluate apitegromab in infants and toddlers with SMA under two years of age
who have been or are continuing to be treated with any currently approved SMN therapy.
Apitegromab in Additional Rare, Severe and Debilitating Neuromuscular Disorders
- Expanding development of apitegromab in additional rare, severe and debilitating neuromuscular disorders. Building on the positive Phase 3 SAPPHIRE trial in SMA, the Company is exploring the development of apitegromab in neuromuscular conditions characterized by progressive muscle degeneration leading to loss of mobility, reduction in activities of daily living, and lack of independence.These disorders include Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), and the Company continues to evaluate its clinical development programs in these areas and others as part of its efforts to be a leading neuromuscular disease company.
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Presented preclinical data demonstrating the impact of murine equivalent of apitegromab in a DMD mouse model at the
MDA Clinical and Scientific Conference inMarch 2025 . The poster presentation included preclinical data combining the murine equivalent of apitegromab and a dystrophin corrector for addressing muscle defects in a DMD mouse model. Treatment resulted in significant additive increases in muscle size, dystrophin levels, and strength. These preclinical results support the potential of apitegromab in DMD.
Cardiometabolic Program
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Topline data to be reported in
June 2025 from the Phase 2 EMBRAZE proof-of-concept trial. The trial is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of apitegromab in preserving muscle mass in adultswho are overweight or obese and receiving tirzepatide. This exploratory trial will be used to guide Scholar Rock’s future plans for potential development in obesity.
Advancing Our Portfolio of Highly Innovative and Selective Latent Myostatin Inhibitors
SRK-439 is a novel, investigational, preclinical, subcutaneous myostatin inhibitor that binds to pro- and latent myostatin with high affinity and is selective for myostatin (i.e., no GDF11 or Activin A binding). Based on preclinical data, SRK-439 has the potential to potently inhibit myostatin and increase muscle mass.
- IND application for SRK-439 to support the first in human study remains on track and is expected to be filed in Q3 2025.
Corporate
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David L. Hallal was appointed Chief Executive Officer as part of a planned transition ahead of global launch of apitegromab for SMA. He has served as Chairman of Scholar Rock’s Board of Directors since 2017.Jay Backstrom , M.D. MPH, to serve as a strategic advisor and will continue to work closely with the executive team and Board of Directors.
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Akshay Vaishnaw , M.D., Ph.D., was appointed to newly created role of President of R&D. He has served as a Scholar Rock Board member since 2019 and was formerly President of Alnylam.
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R. Keith Woods was appointed Chief Operating Officer to focus on evolving the organization into a fully integrated global enterprise. He was formerly COO of argenx.
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Vikas Sinha was appointed Chief Financial Officer. He was formerly CFO of Alexion and ElevateBio.
First Quarter 2025 Financial Results
For the quarter ended
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The Company did not record any revenue for the quarter ended
March 31, 2025 or for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2024 .
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Research and development expense was
$48.7 million for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2025 , compared to$43.1 million for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2024 . The increase was primarily driven by investment in commercial manufacturing and launch readiness activities for apitegromab, continued development of SRK-439, and employee-related costs.
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General and administrative expense was
$28.4 million for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2025 , compared to$15.3 million for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2024 . The increase was due to employee-related costs and investment into the infrastructure to support the commercialization of apitegromab.
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As of
March 31, 2025 ,Scholar Rock had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of approximately$364.4 million , which along with cash available to the Company, is expected to fund the anticipated operating and capital expenditure requirements into 2027.
Conference Call Information
Management will provide an update on the Company and discuss first quarter 2025 results via conference call on
About
This commitment to unlocking fundamentally different therapeutic approaches is powered by broad application of a proprietary platform, which has developed novel monoclonal antibodies to modulate protein growth factors with extraordinary selectivity. By harnessing cutting-edge science in disease spaces that are historically under-addressed through traditional therapies,
The efficacy and safety of apitegromab, SRK-181, and SRK-439 have not been established and apitegromab, SRK-181, and SRK-439 have not been approved for any use by the FDA or any other regulatory agency.
Scholar Rock® is a registered trademark of
Availability of Other Information About Scholar Rock
Investors and others should note that we communicate with our investors and the public using our company website www.scholarrock.com, including, but not limited to, company disclosures, investor presentations and FAQs,
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, statements regarding Scholar Rock’s future expectations, plans and prospects, including without limitation, Scholar Rock’s expectations regarding its growth, strategy, progress and timing of its clinical trials for apitegromab and its preclinical programs, including SRK-439, and indication selection and development timing, including the timing of any regulatory submissions, the therapeutic potential, clinical benefits and safety of any product candidates, expectations regarding timing, success and data announcements of current ongoing preclinical and clinical trials, its cash runway, expectations relating to commercial launch timing in the US and in
Financial Statements
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|||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | |||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||
(in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||
Three Months Ended |
|||||||
2025 |
2024 |
||||||
Operating expenses | |||||||
Research and development |
$ |
48,678 |
|
$ |
43,094 |
|
|
General and administrative |
|
28,412 |
|
|
15,325 |
|
|
Total operating expenses |
|
77,090 |
|
|
58,419 |
|
|
Loss from operations |
|
(77,090 |
) |
|
(58,419 |
) |
|
Other income (expense), net |
|
2,367 |
|
|
1,566 |
|
|
Net loss |
$ |
(74,723 |
) |
$ |
(56,853 |
) |
|
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ |
(0.67 |
) |
$ |
(0.59 |
) |
|
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
|
111,838,272 |
|
|
95,892,601 |
|
|
|
|||||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets |
|||||
(unaudited) |
|||||
(in thousands) |
|||||
|
|
||||
Assets | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities |
$ |
364,375 |
$ |
437,278 |
|
Other current assets |
|
20,872 |
|
13,887 |
|
Total current assets |
|
385,247 |
|
451,165 |
|
Other assets |
|
22,306 |
|
23,757 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
407,553 |
$ |
474,922 |
|
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | |||||
Current liabilities |
$ |
37,574 |
$ |
46,936 |
|
Long-term liabilities |
|
57,646 |
|
59,352 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
95,220 |
|
106,288 |
|
Total stockholders' equity |
|
312,333 |
|
368,634 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
$ |
407,553 |
$ |
474,922 |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250514928483/en/
Investors & Media
Rushmie Nofsinger
rnofsinger@scholarrock.com
ir@scholarrock.com
857-259-5573
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