Business
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals and Genpharm Announce Collaboration to Provide IMCIVREE® (setmelanotide) to Patients in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries
Exclusive commercialization agreement allows physicians in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain to prescribe IMCIVREE BOSTON,
About this update from Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Exclusive commercialization agreement allows physicians in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain to prescribe IMCIVREE\nBOSTON, May 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RYTM), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming the lives of patients and their families living with hyperphagia and severe obesity caused by rare melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway diseases, today announced a collaboration with Genpharm Services FZ LLC (Genpharm) to commercialize IMCIVREE® (setmelanotide) in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. Under the terms of this exclusive agreement, Genpharm will distribute IMCIVREE to patients in GCC countries for the treatment of hyperphagia and obesity due to Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) or genetically-confirmed biallelic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1), or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency. IMCIVREE is approved for these indications in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union. “We are excited to expand access to IMCIVREE as we continue to increase the impact of this therapy globally,” said Yann Mazabraud, Rhythm’s Executive Vice President and Head of International. “With its commitment to patient centricity and extensive experience providing novel treatments for rare diseases to patients throughout the Middle East and North Africa, Genpharm is the ideal partner to help deliver IMCIVREE with its full suite of regulatory, medical, commercial and operational capabilities.” Rhythm estimates that more than 800 people are living with BBS in GCC countries (prevalence of 1:30,000) and approximately 100 people are living with Biallelic POMC, PCSK1 or LEPR deficiency. Providers in the region now have the ability to prescribe IMCIVREE to qualifying patients who they believe will benefit from the therapy. “Due to many factors, GCC countries have an increased prevalence of certain genetic diseases, creating a significant demand for precision therapies, like IMCIVREE, that address illnesses at their root cause,” said Kamel Ghammachi, Genpharm Chairman. “Rhythm is a pioneer in acknowledging and seeking to rectify the severe unmet need in rare MC4R pathway diseases, and we are thrilled to en...