SCO-240: Phase 1 Ongoing Once-daily Oral SSTR5 Antagonist for Growth Hormone Deficiency

SCO-240 is a drug from SCOHIA PHARMA with a wide range of applications and uses with unique characteristics below:

Key Features

- Exhibits unique biphasic and potent GH secretion stimulation in humans (reaching levels comparable to recombinant GH injection), unseen with other mechanisms of action including ghrelin agonist

- Operates via cAMP signaling, contrasting with calcium signaling of ghrelin-based compounds

Pharmacological Profile

- Highly selective for SSTR5, with no binding affinity for related SSTR1-4

- Specifically stimulates GH without affecting other pituitary hormones including ACTH

- Excellent safety profile in preclinical and clinical studies

- GH secretion effect is human-specific, not readily observed in rodents

Development Status

- Single Ascending Dose Phase 1 study completed in Japanese and Caucasian

- Multiple Ascending Dose study expected to conclude mid-2025

- Secured AMED* grant for the development during 2024-2026 (*AMED: Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, a government-affiliated organization that manages Japan’s medical research grants and facilitates innovation in healthcare)

Patent Status

- Composition of matter patent filed worldwide

Potential Target Diseases

- Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD)

- Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD)

- Turner Syndrome (TS)

- Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS)

- Small for Gestational Age (SGA)

- Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS)

- Pediatric Chronic Renal Insufficiency (CRI)

More information about SCO-240 can be found here and here.