Peptide News Digest

#Rare-Disease

2 stories

Clinical Trials · View digest

Amylyx Launches U.S. Expanded Access Program for Avexitide — First-in-Class Peptide GLP-1 Receptor Antagonist in Post-Bariatric Hypoglycemia

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals on May 5 launched a U.S. Expanded Access Program (EAP) for up to 250 adults with post-bariatric hypoglycemia (PBH) following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. The investigational compound, avexitide, is a first-in-class peptide GLP-1 *receptor antagonist* — designed to bind GLP-1 receptors on pancreatic islet beta cells and block the exaggerated GLP-1-driven insulin response characteristic of PBH, reducing inappropriate insulin secretion and stabilizing blood glucose. Avexitide carries FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for both PBH and congenital hyperinsulinism, plus Orphan Drug Designation. Topline data from the pivotal Phase 3 LUCIDITY trial are anticipated in Q3 2026. The program inverts the standard GLP-1 narrative — for this population, GLP-1 signaling is the problem.

Clinical Trials · View digest

Rhythm Q1 2026: IMCIVREE Net Revenue $60.1M (+59% YoY) on Hypothalamic Obesity Launch — EMANATE Phase 3 Misses in All Four MC4R Substudies

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals reported Q1 2026 results May 5: setmelanotide (IMCIVREE) net product revenue of $60.1M, up from $37.7M a year earlier ($36.9M US, $23.2M ex-US), driven by 150+ new US start forms in acquired hypothalamic obesity following the FDA approval and the EU Marketing Authorization for the same indication; Japan's PMDA accepted the NDA for review. The MC4R-agonist peptide is the only commercial therapy for hypothalamic obesity. Offsetting the topline beat: the Phase 3 EMANATE trial in genetically caused MC4R-pathway diseases failed its primary endpoint in all four independent substudies, narrowing the indication-expansion runway. Net loss was $56.7M; cash $340.6M for 24+ months runway.