Latest news with #Imcivree
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Genetic obesity medication helps East Tennessee woman lose 120+ pounds
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — An East Tennessee woman lost more than 120 pounds in just a year after learning she showed signs of a genetic link to her obesity. UT Medical Center offered her a new medical breakthrough that has changed her life, proving that all cases and causes of obesity are not the same. The simple act of walking into an exam room to meet with her nurse practitioner is something Angelia Collins will never take for granted. At her heaviest, she weighed 386 pounds. She was unable to drive and in a wheelchair. Obesity was something she lived with her whole life. Two convicted in 2022 death of child in New Tazewell get lengthy prison sentences At the age of 4, Collins was already on her way to battling obesity and being bullied at school because of her weight. She remembers the snacks her dad had at the ready. 'He always kept boxes of Little Debbie's in the vehicle in his work truck, so if you got hungry and weren't ready for lunch, you could just grab a cake,' Collins said. 'So I got in the habit of grabbing a cake. And so, my obsession with Little Debbie's grew.' (Photo courtesy of Angelia Collins) (Photo courtesy of Angelia Collins) After her marriage, she learned to hide her food obsession from her husband. 'I would actually, when my husband would go to work, it was nothing for me – he worked third (shift) – so it was nothing for me to go into the cabinets and pull out five or six little cakes or grab me a handful of cookies and a Mountain Dew. I drank five of them a day,' she said. After not being able to lose weight on her own, her primary care doctor said her only option was gastric bypass surgery. Collins went to University Bariatric Center, where she was not rushed into surgery. After talking with her, doctors felt she'd be a good candidate for a medical breakthrough drug instead. It's called Imcivree. It's an injectable drug, but different than other weight loss drugs on the market. 'Everyone is familiar with the GLP1s that work on the gut. These work on the brain,' explained Nurse Practitioner Amber Evans. 'So, it's like a broken traffic light. These patients feel hunger all the time and they never reach satiety. So that medication helps to stop that traffic signal to say 'It's not blinking yellow-it's time to stop. You're full.' And they're like 'Ok, I'm full with this meal. I'm satisfied.'' Man charged with vehicular homicide after fatal crash on Millertown Pike Imcivree is for people with a genetic link to obesity. Collins falls into that category by her signs and symptoms alone. 'There are lots of different signs,' Evans said, 'but the two main ones are childhood obesity and hyperphasia, so we call that preoccupation with food. You may eat and then feel hungry again. You may want to sneak food , you want to know when your next meal is. You may feel stressed if you're deprived of food.' A year after being on Imcivree, Collins isn't afraid to step on the scale. She's down to 260 pounds today. That's more than a 120 pound weight loss, and she has her eyes set on a goal. 'I am 80 pounds away from where I want to be, but it's gonna happen!' she exclaimed. Collins is now looking forward to her 40th high school reunion in June. One side effect of the drug-it can cause skin to darken, which isn't stopping Collins from taking it. To see if you're a candidate for free genetic testing at UT Medical Center, call 865-305-9620. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
Reuters
07-04-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Rhythm Pharma's drug for rare obesity meets late-stage trial goal
April 7 (Reuters) - Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (RYTM.O), opens new tab said on Monday its drug Imcivree notably reduced weight in patients with a rare obesity disorder caused by damage to the brain, meeting the main goal of a late-stage trial. Shares of the company rose 2.5% to $48.10 in premarket trading despite U.S. index futures being sharply lower. Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here. The 120-person trial tested patients with acquired hypothalamic obesity, a condition caused by damage to the hypothalamus in the brain, often due to tumors, their treatment or other injuries. The therapy, chemically known as setmelanotide, reduced weight by 16.5% as measured on the body mass index (BMI) after a year, compared to a 3.3% increase for patients on placebo, the company said in a statement. Imcivree is Rhythm's only approved treatment, and an expanded approval for the rare disorder could unlock a $2 billion-plus opportunity, according to Jefferies analysts. The drug brought in sales of $41.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Imcivree is currently approved to treat genetic obesity in adults and children aged two years and older. The weight loss seen in the trial is "very strong, looks highly consistent and clears investor expectations, setting up a blockbuster expansion opportunity," said Stifel analyst Paul Matteis. The efficacy of the drug is "outstanding in a highly difficult-to-treat patient population," Matteis added. Rhythm estimates there are 5,000 to 10,000 people living with hypothalamic obesity in the U.S. The therapy also met secondary goals such as improvements in daily maximal hunger score, a measure of the intensity of hunger, for patients aged 12 years or older. The company expects to complete regulatory applications in the United States and Europe in the third quarter of this year.
CBC
13-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
7-year-old in Hamilton has rare condition with $300K annual treatment her family can't afford
Social Sharing Ibrahim Hermus arrived in Canada in 2023 with hopes his young daughter, Cena, would receive the medical care she desperately needed for a rare condition. But Ibrahim soon discovered that would not be the case. Cena, 7, was born in Turkey. At age 2, she was diagnosed with proopiomelanocortin (POMC) deficiency. The rare, life-threatening disorder causes severe obesity at an early age. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, people with the disorder have low levels of the hormone adrenocorticotropic (ACTH), which can come with other health-threatening complications. Cena and her family arrived in Canada on Sep. 12, 2023, as refugees from Turkey. Before that, they lived in Syria but had to flee the war-torn country. Ibrahim said Cena weighed around 165 pounds when they came to Canada, after deadly earthquakes hit both countries, and she's now around 220. During a recent visit to the family's Hamilton Mountain home, Ibrahim said he's "very scared" for his daughter. The treatment Cena needs — a medication called setmelanotide — is at least $300,000 during the first year, according to both the family and McMaster Children's Hospital, which has been giving care to the seven-year-old. CBC Hamilton has seen the hospital documents recommending the treatment for Cena. But that's a cost the family can't afford. Condition makes breathing, going to school hard At home, Cena has a shy demeanour and timid smile. She likes to hold onto a doll, which she says is her favourite, and loves playing with her little sister, Fatima. According to her father, Cena loves to spend time playing with her toys, as well as painting and drawing. But doing her favourite things can get difficult for Cena. Her condition makes her feel tired and unable to walk most of the time, and she's unable to attend school most days. Cena also suffers from sleep apnea, often waking up in the middle of the night, unable to breathe. Ibrahim said she's also dealing with diabetes, liver problems and constant pain. Along with obesity, people with POMC deficiency tend to have adrenal insufficiency, which can lead to periods of low blood sugar, seizures and high levels of a bilirubin, a toxic substance. Adrenal insufficiency can lead to death if not treated early, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Health Canada says one in 12 people has a rare disease; many of them are children. CBC Hamilton reached out to the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders to understand more about POMC deficiency in Canada, but did not receive a response before publication. The government of Canada has called POMC "very rare," citing the GlobalData Healthcare database. In the U.S., fewer than 1,000 people have the condition, according to Department of Health and Human Services. In Cena's case, the medication she needs is not covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit program. A spokesperson from the Ontario Ministry of Health told CBC Hamilton that for drugs like Imcivree (setmelanotide) to be covered under the program, the manufacturer must submit a request saying it is being used for a specific medical condition — and the ministry says the manufacturer has not done that. CBC Hamilton reached out to the manufacturer of Imcivree (setmelanotide) for comment but did not hear back before publication. The drug was approved by Health Canada for use here in 2023. 'My heart is broken for this family' Ibrahim said neither he nor his wife has been able to work in Canada due to a language barrier and the constant medical appointments and level of care their daughter needs. They get Ontario child benefit payments and food bank support from Mishka Social Services, an organization that helps the local Muslim community. Along with Cena, there are five other children — four at home who are two through 14 years old, and two adult children living in Canada. Over the past six months, Rania Mohammed, a social service worker with Mishka, has been working closely with the couple and their kids. "My heart is broken for this family," she told CBC Hamilton. She said this has been a difficult time for the family, especially Ibrahim, who feels "overwhelmed, scared, nervous" about what will happen to Cena. "He told me, 'Can you imagine the feeling when you see your loved one, my daughter, in front of me, and I cannot afford her medication? And I know if this won't be covered, I'm going to lose her,'" Mohammed said. Ibrahim said the anxiety has taken a big toll on him and his health, and he often finds it hard to sleep. Ozempic another option for Cena But Ibrahim won't stop trying to help his daughter, Mohammed said. Mishka Social Services has also been advocating for Cena. Since last year, the organization has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for her medication and is organizing a fundraising Iftar dinner during the holy month of Ramadan, with part of the proceeds going to help Cena, according to Mohammed. The dinner is Friday at Carmen's event centre. While setmelanotide remains out of reach right now, Cena is taking some medication to ease symptoms. Ozempic, a drug approved to treat diabetes, is also a temporary option to manage Cena's weight, Mohammed said. But even though it's less expensive — around $400 a month — the family says it does not fit in their budget. With help from Mishka and other services, Cena's family has reached out to multiple organizations and local officials such as members of Parliament to raise awareness of their situation and ask for "any support available." They have yet to receive any as a result, Mohammed said.
