Publications and presentations

Learn about Rhythm’s scientific research through key publications and recent medical conference presentations.

Roth C, et al. Setmelanotide for the treatment of acquired hypothalamic obesity: a phase 2, open-label, multicentre trial. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. 2024;12(6):380-389.

Forsythe E, et al. Quality of life improvements following one year of setmelanotide in children and adult patients with Bardet–Biedl syndrome: phase 3 trial results. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2023;18(1):12.

Shah BP, et al. Functional characterization of all missense variants in LEPR, PCSK1, and POMC genes arising from single-nucleotide variants.  Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab. 2023;18(2):209-219. 

Ervin C, et al. Interview-Based Patient- and Caregiver-Reported Experiences of Hunger and Improved Quality of Life with Setmelanotide Treatment in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome. Adv Ther. 2023;40(5):2394-2411. 

Haqq AM, et al. Efficacy and safety of setmelanotide, a melanocortin-4 receptor agonist, in patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Alström syndrome: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial with an open-label period. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022;10(12):859-868. 

Kühnen P, et al. Quality of life outcomes in two phase 3 trials of setmelanotide in patients with obesity due to LEPR or POMC deficiency. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2022;17(1):38.

Clément K, et al. Efficacy and safety of setmelanotide, an MC4R agonist, in individuals with severe obesity due to LEPR or POMC deficiency: single-arm, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trials. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020;8(12):960-970. 

Clément K, et al. MC4R agonism promotes durable weight loss in patients with leptin receptor deficiency. Nat Med. 2018;24(5):551-555.

Kühnen P, et al. Proopiomelanocortin deficiency treated with a melanocortin-4 receptor agonist. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(3):240-246.

Garfield AS, et al. Role of central melanocortin pathways in energy homeostasis. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2009;20(5):203-215.

ENDO 2024

Patient- and Caregiver-Reported Experiences of Hunger, Weight, and Energy in Acquired Hypothalamic Obesity Before and During Setmelanotide Treatment
Dr. Christian Roth
Poster

Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Obesity Secondary to Different MC4R Pathway Diseases and 1-Year Response to Setmelanotide
Dr. Christian Roth

Poster

Hyperphagia and Body Weight Gain Are Reduced by Once-Weekly Treatment With RM-718, a Selective Melanocortin-4 Receptor Agonist, in Zucker Obese Rats
Dr. Danica Grujic

Presentation

RESTORE: Real-world Study of Setmelanotide in Patients With MC4R Pathway Diseases
Caroline Huber

Poster

Design of a Phase 1 Trial of Once-Weekly RM-718, a Selective Melanocortin-4 Receptor Agonist, in Patients With General or Hypothalamic Obesity
Dr. Christian Roth

Poster

Stage 1 Results of the Phase 2 DAYBREAK Trial Assessing Setmelanotide in Patients With Early-Onset, Severe Obesity and Hyperphagia Who Carried a Confirmed Variant Related to the Melanocortin-4 Receptor Pathway
Dr. Elif Oral

Poster

PES 2024

Weight-Related Measures in Pediatric Patients With Hypothalamic Obesity Treated With Setmelanotide for 12 Months
Jennifer Abuzzahab, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, Children’s Minnesota

Poster

Efficacy in Weight Reduction and Safety in Pediatric Age Groups With Rare Melanocortin-4 Receptor Pathway–Related Obesity Treated With Setmelanotide for 12 Months
Ashley Shoemaker, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Poster

Efficacy and Safety of Setmelanotide in Patients Aged 2 to <6 Years With Rare Melanocortin-4 Receptor Pathway Diseases of Obesity: Results From VENTURE, a Phase 3, Multicenter, 1-Year, Open-Label Trial
Megan Kelsey, M.D., Children’s Hospital Colorado

Presentation

The Obesity Society’s ObesityWeek® 2023

Weight Reduction in Patients With Hypothalamic Obesity Treated With Setmelanotide for 12 Months

Christian L. Roth, M.D., Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
Poster

3-Year Setmelanotide Weight Outcomes in Patients With Bardet-Biedl Syndrome and Obesity
Jack A. Yanovski, M.D., Ph.D., Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Poster

Cardiac, Renal, and Endocrine/Diabetes Mellitus Outcomes in Children With Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
Jeremy Pomeroy, Ph.D., M.S., Marshfield Clinic Research Institute

Poster

Impact of Setmelanotide on Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Patients With Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
Andrea Haqq, M.D., M.H.S., Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Alberta

Presentation

4-Year Setmelanotide Weight Outcomes in Patients With POMC and LEPR Deficiency Obesity
Wendy K. Chung, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY

Presentation

Impact of Setmelanotide on Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Patients With POMC and LEPR Deficiency
Martin Wabitsch, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Ulm in Germany

Presentation

ESPE 2023 – European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Annual Meeting

Frequency of Obesity-Related Gene Variants in a European Population With Early-Onset, Severe Obesity
Jesús Argente, M.D., Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Slides

Impact of Setmelanotide on Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Pediatric Patients With POMC and LEPR Deficiency
Martin Wabitsch, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Ulm in Germany

Slides

Impact of Setmelanotide on Future Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Pediatric Patients With Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
Jesús Argente, M.D., Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Slides

Frequency of MC4R Pathway Variants in a European Cohort of Individuals With Early-Onset Severe Obesity
Anthony Goldstone, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London

Slides

ENDO 2023 – Annual Conference

Weight Reduction After 6 Months of Setmelanotide Treatment in Patients With Hypothalamic Obesity
Christian L. Roth, M.D., Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA

Poster

Treatment History and Comorbidities Reported by Patients With Hypothalamic Obesity Treated With Setmelanotide in a Phase 2 Trial
Christian L. Roth, M.D., Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA

Poster

Effect of Setmelanotide on Metabolic Parameters and Vital Signs in a Phase 2 Trial of Patients With Hypothalamic Obesity
Michael Gottschalk, M.D., Ph.D., Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, Professor, UC San Diego School of Medicine

Poster

Trial Design of a Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 3 Study of Setmelanotide in Patients With Hypothalamic Obesity
Ashley Shoemaker, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Poster

The Obesity Society’s ObesityWeek® 2022

Efficacy and Safety Analysis of Setmelanotide as a Novel Treatment for Hypothalamic Obesity
Christian L. Roth, M.D., Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA

Poster

Substantial Burden Associated With Hyperphagia and Obesity in Children With Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
Jeremy Pomeroy, Ph.D., M.S., Marshfield Clinic Research Institute

Poster

Exploration of Clinical Improvements Following Setmelanotide Treatment in Patients With Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
Andrea Haqq, M.D., M.H.S., Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Alberta

Poster

Natural History of Weight Gain in Children With Bardet-Biedl Syndrome: Results From the Clinical Registry Investigating Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
Jeremy Pomeroy, Ph.D., M.S., Marshfield Clinic Research Institute
Poster

Weight Outcomes With Setmelanotide Over 3 Years in Patients With POMC or LEPR Deficiency Obesity
Karine Clément, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Nutrition at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne Université and Head of the INSERM Nutriomics Laboratory in Paris
Slides

Variants in Obesity-Related Genes in a Population With Early-Onset Obesity
Patrick Kleyn, Ph.D., SVP, Head of Translational Research and Development at Rhythm Pharmaceuticals

Poster

Frequency of MC4R Pathway Variants in a Large US Cohort of Patients With Severe Obesity
Elliot Bromberg, Beghou Consulting, Boston, MA
Poster

Effect of Long-term Setmelanotide Use on Body Composition in Patients With POMC or LEPR Deficiency Obesity
Karine Clément, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Nutrition at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne Université and Head of the Inserm Nutriomics Laboratory in Paris
Poster

Uncovering Rare Obesity Genetic Testing Program: Utility of Genetic Testing in Adults With Obesity
Patrick Kleyn, Ph.D., SVP, Head of Translational Research and Development at Rhythm Pharmaceuticals

Poster

Frequency of BBS and ALMS1 Variants in a Cohort With Early-Onset Obesity
Patrick Kleyn, Ph.D., SVP, Head of Translational Research and Development at Rhythm Pharmaceuticals

Poster

International Meeting on Pathway-Related Obesity: Vision of Excellence (IMPROVE) 2022

Setmelanotide in Patients with Obesity due to Certain MC4R Variants Stratified as Rescuable or Nonrescuable Based on an In Vitro Functional Assay

Poster

ESPE 2022 – European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Annual Meeting

The Multifaceted Burden Experienced by Caregivers of Individuals With Bardet-Biedl Syndrome: Findings From the CARE-BBS Study

Elizabeth Forsythe, M.D., Ph.D., UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London.

Slides

Caregiver Burden in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome: a Survey of Obesity and Hyperphagia Impacts

Dr. Forsyth

Poster

Effects of Setmelanotide Treatment in Children and Adolescents with Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) Deficiency, Leptin Receptor (LEPR) Deficiency, and Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS)

Jesús Argente, M.D., Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Slides

VENTURE: Design of a Phase 3 Multicenter, 1-Year, Open-label Trial of Setmelanotide in Pediatric Patients Aged 2 to <6 Years with Rare Genetic Diseases of Obesity

Dr. Argente

Poster

ENDO 2022 – Annual Conference

Long-term Efficacy of Setmelanotide in Patients with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

Jesús Argente, M.D., Ph.D., Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Spain

Poster

Long-term Efficacy of Setmelanotide in Patients With POMC or LEPR Deficiency Obesity

Karine Clément, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Nutrition at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne Université and Head of the INSERM Nutriomics Laboratory in Paris

Poster

Body Mass Index and Weight Reduction in Patients with SH2B1 Deficiency Obesity After 1 Year of Setmelanotide

Sadaf Farooqi, M.D., Ph.D, the Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge

Poster

Body Mass Index and Weight Reductions in Patients with SRC1 Deficiency Obesity After 1 Year of Setmelanotide

Jesús Argente, M.D., Ph.D., Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Spain

Poster

Body Mass Index and Weight Reductions in Patients with Obesity Due to Heterozygous Variants in POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR After 1 Year of Setmelanotide
Brieana Buckley, PharmD, M.S., Vice President of Medical Affairs at Rhythm
Slides

Setmelanotide in Patients With Obesity Due to Heterozygous Variants in POMC, LEPR, NCOA1, or SH2B1 Genes: Design of EMANATE—a Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial

Sadaf Farooqi, M.D., Ph.D, the Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge

Poster

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