RYTM - Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Presents Patient-reported Experiences with Hyperphagia in Hypothalamic Obesity at ENDO 2024 | Benzinga
- Participants from the completed Phase 2 hypothalamic obesity trial reported positive changes in sleep, energy levels during setmelanotide therapy in qualitative interviews -
- Separate analysis of patients across MC4R pathway diseases showed one year of treatment with setmelanotide improved NIH, WHO weight classifications -
- Previously reported stage one results from Phase 2 DAYBREAK trial showed potential setmelanotide efficacy in multiple MC4R pathway variants; stage two data expected in Q3 2024 -
- Preclinical data demonstrated potential of RM-718 to reduce body weight and hunger -
- Additional posters feature design of Phase 1 trial of RM-718 and real-world RESTORE study -
BOSTON, June 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:RYTM), a global commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming the lives of patients and their families living with rare neuroendocrine diseases, today announced the presentation of the first patient and caregiver reported experiences from qualitative interviews following the completion of a Phase 2 trial that evaluated treatment with setmelanotide in hypothalamic obesity (HO). These results were among six Rhythm presentations at the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting & Expo (ENDO 2024) being held June 1-4 in Boston.
"We continue to advance what we believe to be the most comprehensive clinical research program ever initiated for the treatment of hyperphagia and severe obesity associated with rare melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway diseases," said David Meeker, M.D., Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rhythm. "For the first time, we presented patient and caregiver reported results showing that setmelanotide therapy in patients with hypothalamic obesity was associated with meaningful improvements in their lives beyond clinical outcomes and reductions in body mass index (BMI)."
Christian Roth, M.D., Seattle Children's Research Institute and Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, presented, "Patient- and Caregiver-reported Experiences of Hunger, Weight and Energy in Acquired Hypothalamic Obesity Before and During Setmelanotide Therapy." In qualitative interviews before setmelanotide therapy, five participants (three patients, two caregivers) all reported experiencing substantial weight gain, unrelenting hunger, drastically reduced energy or physical activity, and interrupted nighttime sleep, primarily due to hunger associated with acquired hypothalamic obesity. In their experiences following initiation of setmelanotide therapy, all study participants reported improved energy and ability and desire to be more active, and four of five participants reported reductions in hunger, positive changes in eating behavior and improvements in sleep.
Rhythm and its collaborators also delivered two rapid-fire oral presentations and accompanying posters at ENDO 2024:
- Dr. Roth presented results from an analysis of the clinical characteristics of 58 individuals who participated in trials of setmelanotide across MC4R pathway diseases including hypothalamic obesity, proopiomelanocortin (POMC) or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency obesities, or Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS). After one year of treatment with setmelanotide, improvements of at least one obesity class were observed across all cohorts (HO: 92%; POMC deficiency: 89%; LEPR deficiency: 36%; BBS: 42%). Patients with LEPR deficiency and BBS had more severe weight categories at baseline but still showed general improvement in weight categories after one year of treatment.
- Danica Grujic, Ph.D., Senior Director, Non-Clinical Development, Translational Research & Development, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, presented results from a preclinical study that evaluated treatment with RM-718, a selective MC4R agonist designed to be administered weekly with potential to avoid MC1R-related hyperpigmentation, in a rodent model of obesity, hyperphagia, and insulin resistance. Treatment was well-tolerated and stable weight and food intake reductions and improved insulin sensitivity were observed after three weeks.
Rhythm and its collaborators also presented three additional posters at ENDO 2024:
- Elif Oral, M.D., Associate Professor in ...