A Melanocortin-4 Receptor Agonist Induces Skin and Hair Pigmentation in Patients with Monogenic Mutations in the Leptin-Melanocortin Pathway.

Lara Lechner, Ulrike Blume-Peytavi, Peter Kühnen, Susanna Wiegand, Ismaa Sadaf Farooqi, Karine Clément, Keith Gottesdiener, Heiko Krude, Christine Poitou, Varvara Kanti, Annette Andruck, Claudia Richter, Annika Vogt, Jan Kottner, Philipp Maximilian Krabusch, Irina Jahnke, Lia Puder

Journal: Skin pharmacology and physiology 2022;34(6):307-316

PMID: 34058738

Full Text on S. Karger AG, Basel, Switzerland View on PubMed

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Gene mutations within the leptin-melanocortin signaling pathway lead to severe early-onset obesity. Recently, a phase 2 trial evaluated new pharmacological treatment options with the MC4R agonist setmelanotide in patients with mutations in the genes encoding proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and leptin receptor (LEPR). During treatment with setmelanotide, changes in skin pigmentation were observed, probably due to off-target effects on the closely related melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). Here, we describe in detail the findings of dermatological examinations and measurements of skin pigmentation during this treatment over time and discuss the impact of these changes on patient safety.

METHODS

In an investigator-initiated, phase 2, open-label pilot study, 2 patients with loss-of-function POMC gene mutations and 3 patients with loss-of-function variants in LEPR were treated with the MC4R agonist setmelanotide. Dermatological examination, dermoscopy, whole body photographic documentation, and spectrophotometric measurements were performed at screening visit and approximately every 3 months during the course of the study.

RESULTS

We report the results of a maximum treatment duration of 46 months. Skin pigmentation increased in all treated patients, as confirmed by spectrophotometry. During continuous treatment, the current results indicate that elevated tanning intensity levels may stabilize over time. Lips and nevi also darkened. In red-haired study participants, hair color changed to brown after initiation of setmelanotide treatment.

DISCUSSION

Setmelanotide treatment leads to skin tanning and occasionally hair color darkening in both POMC- and LEPR-deficient patients. No malignant skin changes were observed in the patients of this study. However, the results highlight the importance of regular skin examinations before and during MC4R agonist treatment.

Address: Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Berlin, Germany.; Institute for Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.; Berlin Institute of Health, Department for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.; Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, CRNH-Ile de France Paris, Nutrition department, Paris, France.; Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Nutrition and Obesity, systemic approach (NutriOmics) research group, Paris, France.; Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.; Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.; Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Social-Pediatric Care/Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

DOI: 10.1159/000516282

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MeSH Terms: Humans, Leptin, Melanocortins, Mutation, Obesity, Pilot Projects, Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4, Skin Pigmentation