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Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Announces Publication of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome Patient and Caregiver Perspectives of Hunger and Quality of Life with Setmelanotide
- Interview-based research published in Advances in Therapy demonstrates setmelanotide improved hyperphagia and reduced body weight and obsessive focus on
About this update from Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"- Interview-based research published in Advances in Therapy demonstrates setmelanotide improved hyperphagia and reduced body weight and obsessive focus on food – - Company also announces publication of health state utilities study in hyperphagia - BOSTON, March 27, 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 the publication of interview-based patient and caregiver reported experiences of hunger and quality of life with setmelanotide treatment in Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS). The research is published in the peer-reviewed journal Advances in Therapy. “Hyperphagia and early-onset, severe obesity are hallmark characteristics of BBS that place a considerable burden on patients and their families,” said Prof. Andrea M. Haqq, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta. “Our results show that hyperphagia – a pathological, all-consuming hunger leading to an obsessive focus on food – negatively affects the lives of patients and families, posing difficulties with concentration, emotional and physical manifestation, and impaired relationships. Our analyses also demonstrate that setmelanotide therapy resulted in meaningful improvements for these patients, such as weight loss and a decrease in obsessive focus on food and food-seeking behaviors. Further, these interviews exemplify the usefulness of patient experience data as recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for patient-centered drug development.” The qualitative study publication, titled, “Interview-Based Patient- and Caregiver-Reported Experiences of Hunger and Improved Quality of Life With Setmelanotide Treatment in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome,” includes patients with BBS or their caregivers who participated in Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of setmelanotide. A total of 19 interviews were conducted with patients (n=8) and caregivers (n=11) to explore patient experience and caregiver observations of hyperphagia before and during setmelanotide treatment. Before setmelanotide treatment, most patients (n=7; 87.5%) and caregivers (n=10; 90.9%) experienced negative effects directly relat...