Drug Shows Therapeutic Potential in Preclinical Model of Spinal Cord Injury

The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Scholar Rock, a biotechnology company, have announced findings from a research collaboration that has demonstrated beneficial effects of a proprietary antibody in a preclinical model of spinal cord injury.

A Scholar Rock antibody (in orange) is shown binding to the myostatin precursor (in green and yellow) to prevent release of myostatin’s muscle growth-prevention activity.

The study results, presented on July 10 at the 35th Annual National Neurotrauma Symposium, revealed that Scholar Rock’s SRK-015 antibody, which possesses a unique ability to selectively block intramuscular activation of myostatin, improved key characteristics of muscle pathology that result from severe contusion injury to the spinal cord. More specifically, the antibody decreased muscle atrophy, reduced fat infiltration into muscle, and improved muscle function.

“We appreciated our fruitful interaction with the leadership and scientists of the Scholar Rock team, enabling the exploration of an innovative therapeutic approach to spinal cord injury,” said Mark S. Nash, Ph.D., professor of neurological surgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation, and lead investigator of the study. “Maintaining muscle mass both above and below the level of spinal cord lesion is needed to preserve health and function of persons with spinal cord injuries, both immediately following injury and throughout the lifespan.

“We have been interested in myostatin for some time given its role as key negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass in many diseases and degenerative processes. By selectively inhibiting myostatin activation, SRK-015 offers the opportunity to address secondary health and functional decline associated with the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and cardioendocrine systems.”

SRK-015 is Scholar Rock’s lead antibody drug candidate. It is initially being developed for the improvement of muscle strength and function in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

“The data from our collaboration with Drs. Nash and Gregory Bigford at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis support our belief that, when applied to appropriate disease settings, highly specific inhibition of myostatin activation may result in important clinical improvements in muscle pathology and function,” said Nagesh Mahanthappa, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Scholar Rock. “These data, in addition to our recent findings in a genetic model of SMA, demonstrate the potential of SRK-015 to address unmet needs in the treatment of a broad set of degenerative neuromuscular conditions.”

A poster presentation by Dr. Bigford, entitled “Pharmacological Inhibition of Myostatin with mSRK-015P in a Contusion Model of Spinal Cord Injury Improves Key Characteristics of Muscle Pathology,” reported key findings in a preclinical mouse model of spinal cord injury:

• Masses of the soleus and gastrocnemius, which are muscles below the level of the experimentally induced spinal cord lesion, in the antibody treated group were significantly greater than the non-treated group following experimental injury, and not significantly different from uninjured control.

• Lipid infiltration into muscle associated with spinal cord injury was significantly reduced in muscles from the antibody treated group compared to the non-treated group.

• Improvements in muscle health were associated with improved grip strength and functional scores in antibody-treated animals.

Tags: Gregory Bigford, Mark S. Nash, Miller School of Medicine, myostatin, Scholar Rock, SRK-015, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami