Scholar Rock data show potential benefit of SRK-439 for ‘healthy’ weight control

Scholar Rock announced new preclinical data showing the potential of SRK-439 to preserve lean mass and improve metabolic health as part of healthy weight loss. These data showed that SRK-439 maintained lean mass and improved fat mass loss when used in combination with a GLP-1 receptor agonist n diet-induced obesity DIO mice. SRK-439 treatment also led to incremental lowering of fasting glucose beyond the levels seen with semaglutide alone. Detailed results were presented by Melissa Fulham, PhD, of Scholar Rock, at the Keystone Symposia’s Obesity: Causes and Consequences meeting in Vancouver, BC, Canada on February 5. “These preclinical data showing that SRK-439 preserves lean mass and improves fat mass loss provide compelling scientific rationale to study SRK-439 in combination with GLP-1 RA therapies for healthy weight loss management,” said Jay Backstrom, M.D., MPH, President and CEO of Scholar Rock. “We believe that preserving lean muscle mass through our highly selective approach to myostatin inhibition in combination with GLP-1 RA therapy has the potential to transform the management of weight loss. We look forward to initiating our proof-of-concept study with apitegromab in combination with GLP-1 RA therapy in obesity as we also continue to advance SRK-439 to clinic.”