With a strong start to the day, Scholar Rock Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: SRRK) rose 13.77% to $35.44 as of the last check. The stock price increased following the biotechnology company’s release of positive results from a research trial.
Apitegromab Enhances Weight Loss Quality
In the Phase 2 EMBRAZE proof-of-concept trial, Scholar Rock evaluated the use of apitegromab in combination with tirzepatide. The results suggest that this pairing may help preserve lean muscle mass during medically induced weight loss.
The EMBRAZE trial revealed that patients receiving tirzepatide alone lost 30% of their total weight in the form of lean mass. Nevertheless, an extra 4.2 pounds, or 54.9%, of lean body mass was maintained when apitegromab was given concurrently.
Given that maintaining muscle mass is essential to avoiding the metabolic hazards associated with muscle loss, this indicates a notable increase in the quality of weight reduction. Apitegromab’s safety profile was supported by its typically good tolerance.
Addressing a Key Challenge in GLP Therapy
GLP-1 therapies have revolutionized obesity and cardiometabolic treatment but pose the downside of lean mass reduction. Scholar Rock’s selective myostatin inhibition platform has shown potential in mitigating this risk.
By achieving its primary endpoint, the EMBRAZE study validates the therapeutic hypothesis behind apitegromab’s mechanism and supports its advancement for broader use in GLP-treated populations.
Expanding Pipeline and Future Plans
While apitegromab’s clinical promise is gaining recognition, Scholar Rock is concurrently preparing for its potential approval in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The company is also eyeing further development of SRK-439—a subcutaneous, anti-myostatin antibody—with plans to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the second half of 2025.
Scholar Rock intends to evaluate this candidate in a variety of rare and severe neuromuscular disorders. The EMBRAZE trial randomized patients with obesity or overweight into two groups over a 24-week treatment period: one receiving apitegromab plus tirzepatide, and the other receiving placebo plus tirzepatide.
The topline results established a strong proof-of-concept for myostatin inhibition as a means to optimize the metabolic benefits of weight loss therapy.
