Setmelanotide for treating acquired hypothalamic obesity in people 4 years and older

Setmelanotide is currently in development for the treatment of acquired hypothalamic obesity. Acquired hypothalamic obesity refers to excess weight gain that may follow from an injury to the hypothalamus, a brain region which coordinates the endocrine system (controls body functions). The hypothalamus affects energy intake, by regulating how much we eat and how much energy is stored and used. Damage to the hypothalamus disrupts the carefully coordinated balance between energy intake and expenditure, often leading to rapid weight gain. Multiple factors likely combine to cause excess weight gain after hypothalamic injury, and individuals vary in the extent to which they experience these different phenomena. Currently, there are no approved pharmacological treatments available, instead only weight management and bariatric surgery are available.