Benzinga | Aug 27, 2020 07:38AM EDT

Scholar Rock Announces Issuance Of US Patent Providing Composition Of Matter Protection For SRK-015

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Scholar Rock (NASDAQ:SRRK), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of serious diseases in which protein growth factors play a fundamental role, today announced that the United States Patent Office (USPTO) issued U.S. Patent No. 10,751,413 providing product protection for SRK-015, including composition of matter and methods of use, with an expiry of January 2037.

"We are at the forefront in the development of antibodies that target the latent form of many growth factors. This composition of matter patent further protects SRK-015, which targets the latent form of myostatin and is being evaluated in the TOPAZ Phase 2 trial for patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy," said Tony Kingsley, President and CEO of Scholar Rock. "We continue to build and strengthen our patent portfolio with patents that specifically protect our product candidates, SRK-015 and SRK-181, as well as a broader family of platform patents directed to our unique approach to targeting the TGF? superfamily of growth factors more generally."

The composition of matter patent is directed to the full-length amino acid sequence of SRK-015 that specifically binds to pro/latent myostatin while avoiding binding to mature myostatin and related growth factors, such as GDF11 and Activin A. The patent also covers methods of treating myopathy, muscle atrophy and metabolic disorders. The ongoing TOPAZ Phase 2 trial is evaluating SRK-015's potential in improving motor function in patients with Type 2 and Type 3 Spinal Muscular Atrophy. A 6-month interim readout is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2020 with top-line data for the 12-month treatment period expected in the first half of 2021.