Benzinga | Apr 12, 2021 10:01AM EDT

Scholar Rock Saturday Morning Announced Biomarker Strategy To Support SRK-181 DRAGON Phase 1 Proof-Of-Concept Trial At American Association For Cancer Research Conference

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 a poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2021, being held virtually from April 10-15.

The e-poster will provide an overview of the development of biomarker assays that are being implemented to support the DRAGON Phase 1 proof-of-concept trial (NCT04291079). The DRAGON trial is evaluating SRK-181, a selective inhibitor of latent TGF?1, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors that have shown primary resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapies.

Details of the poster presentation at the meeting are as follows:

* Title: "Development of a Comprehensive Biomarker Strategy to Support the Latent TGF?1 Inhibitor SRK-181 Phase 1 Clinical Trial, DRAGON" (P.1801)

* Available for on-demand viewing starting April 10, 2021 at 8:30am ET during the Modifiers of the Tumor Microenvironment Session. About SRK-181 SRK-181 is a selective inhibitor of TGF?1 activation and is an investigational product candidate being developed to overcome primary resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapy, such as anti-PD-(L)1 antibodies. TGF?1 is the predominant TGF? isoform expressed in many human tumor types. Based on analyses of various human tumors that are resistant to anti-PD-(L)1 therapy, data suggest TGF?1 is a key contributor to the immunosuppressive microenvironment, excluding and preventing entry of cytotoxic T cells into the tumor, thereby inhibiting anti-tumor immunity (1). Scholar Rock believes SRK-181, which specifically targets the latent TGF?1 isoform, has the potential to overcome this immune cell exclusion and induce tumor regression when administered in combination with anti-PD-(L)1 therapy while potentially avoiding toxicities associated with non-selective TGF? inhibition. The DRAGON Phase 1 proof-of-concept clinical trial (NCT04291079) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors is ongoing. The efficacy and safety of SRK-181 have not been established. SRK-181 has not been approved for any use by the FDA nor any other regulatory agency.