Start of new trial of LB54640, an oral MC4R agonist, in patients with hypothalamic obesity due to acquired hypothalamic injury
We are pleased to announce that we have started treating patients with obesity resulting from damage to the hypothalamus (the control centre of the brain), caused by various conditions (e.g.: craniopharyngiomas), as part of a new trial called Signal.
In this trial, a new oral medication (LB54640) that stimulates the Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is used for the first time, following very encouraging results achieved by another MC4R agonist (Setmelanotide) in a recent phase 2 trial.
This is particularly exciting as there are currently no available effective treatment options (including diet, exercise and medications) to induce weight loss in this group of patients, whose brain pathways regulating hunger and weight are profoundly disrupted.
Signal is a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 2 trial sponsored by Rhythm Pharmaceuticals that will be conducted across 3 countries.