Cambridge, Mass. — Scholar Rock has appointed industry veteran Rebecca McLeod to the newly created position of Chief Brand Officer and U.S. General Manager, as the company gears up for the anticipated commercial launch of its lead drug candidate, apitegromab, for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
In her new role, McLeod will oversee the U.S. commercialization of apitegromab and shape the global brand strategy, including market positioning in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. The move comes as Scholar Rock advances its transition from a development-stage biotech to a commercial-stage company.
McLeod brings over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, most recently serving as U.S. General Manager at argenx. There, she led the successful launch of VYVGART for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), establishing one of the industry’s most successful rare disease franchises. Her previous leadership roles at Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceuticals further cement her expertise in commercial operations, patient services, and product launches.
“Rebecca’s track record in leading U.S. operations and launching transformative therapies in rare neuromuscular diseases makes her a tremendous asset as we prepare to introduce apitegromab,” said R. Keith Woods, Chief Operating Officer at Scholar Rock. “Her leadership will be critical in ensuring we deliver on our promise to the SMA community and establish Scholar Rock as a global force in neuromuscular therapeutics.”
McLeod expressed enthusiasm about joining the company during what she called a pivotal moment of growth. “I’m honored to join Scholar Rock as it prepares to scale globally,” she said. “Bringing apitegromab to patients with SMA represents a meaningful opportunity to improve lives, and I look forward to building the U.S. team and guiding our global brand strategy.”
Apitegromab, Scholar Rock’s experimental treatment, is being developed for the treatment of SMA, a rare and debilitating neuromuscular disorder. The company expects to launch the therapy later this year, pending regulatory approval.
