Open at $35 going to $20 and lower catch a dip .. Scholar Rock Reports Apitegromab Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase 3 SAPPHIRE Study in Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Source: Business Wire
Apitegromab met primary endpoint with statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in motor function as measured by the gold standard Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE) for patients with SMA receiving apitegromab versus placebo (current standard of care) at week 52
30.4% of patients receiving apitegromab had >3 point improvement in HFMSE versus 12.5% of patients on placebo
Patients receiving apitegromab demonstrated early motor function improvement compared to placebo from the first measured time point at 8 weeks, benefit observed at 52 weeks as measured by HFMSE
Patients receiving apitegromab experienced clinically meaningful benefit in motor function across all age groups (ages 2-21)
Favorable safety profile in SAPPHIRE consistent with apitegromab’s long-term safety profile observed in the Phase 2 TOPAZ trial with >48 months of treatment experience in SMA patients
Scholar Rock plans to submit a U.S. Biologics License Application and European Union marketing authorisation application in Q1 2025
Scholar Rock to host Investor Call today at 8:00 AM ET
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, today announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 SAPPHIRE clinical trial (NCT05156320) evaluating the efficacy and safety of apitegromab, an investigational muscle-targeted therapy, in patients with SMA.
The study achieved its primary endpoint demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement for apitegromab versus placebo in motor function as measured by the gold standard HFMSE in SMA patients on chronic dosing of standard of care therapies (either nusinersen or risdiplam). Based upon the similar pharmacological profile of the 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg doses of apitegromab, the statistical analysis plan was prespecified to analyze both the combined dose (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) compared to placebo, and 20 mg/kg dose each compared to placebo. Statistical significance is achieved per the prespecified statistical analysis plan (Hochberg multiplicity adjustment) where the p-value (≤0.025) is more rigorous if only one prespecified analysis crosses the statistical significance boundary of ≤ 0.05.
In the main efficacy population (ages 2-12), the mean difference in change from baseline in HFMSE was 1.8 points (p=0.0192) for all patients receiving apitegromab 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg (n=106) compared to placebo (n=50). Patients receiving 20 mg/kg of apitegromab (n=53) showed a 1.4 point mean difference compared to placebo (p=0.1149).
The prespecified analysis of the 10 mg/kg dose showed that patients receiving 10 mg/kg of apitegromab (n=53) showed an improvement of 2.2 points (nominal p=0.0121) compared to placebo.
Based upon PK/PD data from the SAPPHIRE trial, similar levels of target engagement were observed for the 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg dose groups.
Motor function outcomes were meaningful and consistent across the main efficacy population and in the ages 13-21 exploratory population, favored apitegromab (n=22) compared to placebo (n=10). Thirty percent of patients receiving apitegromab had >3 point improvement in HFMSE versus 12.5% of patients on placebo. Patients receiving apitegromab demonstrated early motor function improvement compared to placebo from the first measured time point at 8 weeks, benefit expanded at 52 weeks as measured by HFMSE. Following trial completion, 98 percent of SAPPHIRE patients (185/188) enrolled in the ongoing ONYX open-label expansion study.
“We are thrilled that apitegromab met the primary endpoint in our Phase 3 SAPPHIRE clinical study. The results clearly demonstrate robust and clinically meaningful improvement in motor function in patients with SMA,” said Jay Backstrom, M.D., MPH, President and Chief Executive Officer of Scholar Rock. “At Scholar Rock, we are working with urgency to deliver the potentially transformative benefits of apitegromab to children and adults with SMA in the US, Europe, and around the world.”
Treatment with apitegromab was well-tolerated across all age groups. There were no clinically relevant differences in the adverse event profile by dose, 10 mg/kg versus 20 mg/kg. No new safety findings were observed in the SAPPHIRE clinical trial; the profile was consistent with that observed in the Phase 2 TOPAZ clinical trial, including an extension study which had over four years of treatment as of the cut-off date. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were consistent with the underlying disease and current standard of care received by patients; no SAEs were assessed as related to apitegromab. There were no study drug discontinuations due to adverse events.
“We are grateful to the families and investigators who participated in our trials. The positive Phase 3 SAPPHIRE trial, along with over 4 years of TOPAZ clinical trial data, clearly demonstrate the potentially transformative benefit of apitegromab to drive clinically meaningful improvements in motor function as measured by HFMSE in a broad SMA population, where motor function would normally be expected to generally decline over time,” said Jing Marantz, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer at Scholar Rock. “We look forward to submitting our applications to the FDA and the EMA in Q1 2025.”
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 Company plans to submit a U.S. Biologics License Application (BLA) and a European Union marketing authorisation application (MAA) in Q1 2025.
“It’s a great day for people living with SMA and their families. These encouraging trial results mark a critical milestone for the SMA community,” said Kenneth Hobby, President of Cure SMA. “Declining motor function and hopes for reversing losses associated with muscle weakness are significant unmet needs, impacting activities of daily living, from breathing, eating, self-care, to working and social interactions. We need an approved therapy that can support motor function and further improve daily activities for people with SMA.”
Analyses of the full Phase 3 SAPPHIRE data are ongoing, and Scholar Rock plans to present detailed results at an upcoming medical conference in early 2025. Preliminary baseline characteristics from the trial will be presented during a poster presentation at the upcoming 29th Annual Congress of the World Muscle Society on Friday, October 11, 2024, being held in Prague, Czech Republic.
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