- David Hallal appointed as CEO of Scholar Rock (SRRK, Financial), succeeding Jay Backstrom, M.D.
- New executive appointments to support the global launch of Apitegromab for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
- Company to host a conference call on April 28, 2025, at 8:30 AM ET to discuss leadership changes
Scholar Rock (SRRK), a biopharmaceutical company advancing treatments for severe diseases, announced today the appointment of David Hallal as Chief Executive Officer. Hallal, who has been the Chairman of the Board since 2017, succeeds Jay Backstrom, M.D. Dr. Backstrom will continue as a strategic advisor during the transition, contributing his expertise to the executive team and Board of Directors.
In addition to the CEO transition, Scholar Rock has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of three key executives. Akshay Vaishnaw, M.D., Ph.D., takes the newly created role of President of Research & Development, while R. Keith Woods assumes the role of Chief Operating Officer, focusing on the company's expansion into a fully integrated global organization. Vikas Sinha joins as Chief Financial Officer, bringing a wealth of experience from previous roles at Alexion and ElevateBio.
These leadership changes come at a pivotal time for Scholar Rock as it prepares for the global launch of Apitegromab, a treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Apitegromab has shown promising results in a pivotal Phase 3 trial and has received Fast Track, Orphan Drug, and Rare Pediatric Disease designations from the FDA, as well as Priority Medicines and Orphan Medicinal Product designations from the European Medicines Agency. The drug's Biologics License Application (BLA) is currently under priority review, with an anticipated launch later this year.
Scholar Rock remains committed to developing innovative therapies targeting neuromuscular diseases and other serious conditions with high unmet needs. The company will discuss these developments and the management transition in a conference call scheduled for April 28, 2025, at 8:30 AM ET. Interested parties can access the call via the Scholar Rock website's Investor Relations section.
