setmelanotide (Rx)

Brand and Other Names:Imcivree

Dosing & Uses

AdultPediatric

Dosage Forms & Strengths

injection, solution

  • 10mg/mL (1-mL multidose vial)

Obesity

Indicated for long-term weight management in patients with obesity owing to proopiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1), leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency, or Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS)

Starting dose: 2 mg SC qDay for 2 weeks

2 mg qDay not tolerated: Reduce to 1 mg SC qDay; if 1 mg qDay tolerated and additional weight loss desired, titrate to 2 mg qDay

2 mg qDay tolerated for 2 weeks: Increase to 3 mg SC qDay; if 3-mg dose is not tolerated, decrease to 2 mg qDay

Dosage Modifications

Renal impairment

  • Mild-to-moderate (eGFR 30-89 mL/min/1.73 m2): No dose adjustment
  • Severe (eGFR 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m2)
    • Reduce recommended starting dose: 0.5 mg SC qDay x 2 weeks; if tolerated, may increase to 1 mg/day x 1 week and if tolerate increase to target dose of 1.5 mg/day
    • Reduce recommended target dose: 1.5 mg SC qDay
    • If not tolerated, discontinue
  • End-stage renal disease (eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73 m2): Not recommended

Hepatic impairment

  • Pharmacokinetics unknown

Dosing Considerations

For BBS: Select patients who have a clinical diagnosis of BBS

Patient selection for POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency

  • Select patients demonstrating variants in POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR genes that are interpreted as pathogenic, likely pathogenic, or of uncertain significance (VUS)
  • Information on an FDA-approved test is available at http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics

Monitoring parameters

  • Monitor for GI adverse effects when initiating treatment
  • Periodically assess response
  • POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency: Evaluate weight loss after 12-16 weeks; if patient has not lost ≥5% of baseline body weight or 5% of baseline BMI for patients with continued growth potential, discontinue treatment
  • BBS: Evaluate weight loss after 1 year; discontinue if a patient has not lost ≥5% of baseline body weight or 5% of baseline BMI for patients aged <18 years

Limitations of use

  • Not indicated for the following conditions, as efficacy is not expected
    • Obesity due to suspected POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency with POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR variants classified as benign or likely benign
    • Other types of obesity not related to POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency, including obesity associated with other genetic syndromes and general (polygenic) obesity

Dosage Forms & Strengths

injection, solution

  • 10mg/mL (1-mL multidose vial)

Obesity

Indicated for long-term weight management in adults and pediatric patients aged ≥6 years with obesity due to POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency with variants in POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR genes that are interpreted as pathogenic, likely pathogenic, or of uncertain significance (VUS) , or Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS)

<6 years: Safety and efficacy not established

6 to <12 years

  • Starting dose: 1 mg SC qDay for 2 weeks
  • 1 mg qDay not tolerated: Reduce to 0.5 mg SC qDay; if 0.5 mg qDay tolerated for at least 1 week, titrate to 1 mg qDay
  • 1 mg qDay tolerated for 2 weeks: Increase to 2 mg SC qDay; if 2-mg dose is tolerated, increase to 3 mg qDay
  • If 2-mg dose is NOT tolerated, decrease to 1 mg qDay

≥12 years

  • Starting dose: 2 mg SC qDay for 2 weeks
  • 2 mg qDay not tolerated: Reduce to 1 mg SC qDay; if 1 mg qDay tolerated and additional weight loss desired, titrate to 2 mg qDay
  • 2 mg qDay tolerated and additional weight loss desired: Increase to 3 mg SC qDay; if not tolerated, maintain dose at 2 mg qDay

Dosage Modifications

Renal impairment

  • Mild-to-moderate(eGFR 30-89 mL/min/1.73 m2): No dose adjustment
  • Severe (eGFR 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m2) for 12 years of age and older
    • Reduce recommended starting and target dosage
    • Reduce recommended starting dose: 0.5 mg SC qDay x 2 weeks; if tolerated, may increase to 1 mg/day x 1 week and if tolerate increase to target dose of 1.5 mg/day
    • Reduce recommended target dose: 1.5 mg SC qDay
    • If not tolerated, discontinue
  • Severe (eGFR 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m2) for 6 to <12 years of age: Not recommended
  • End-stage renal disease (eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73 m2): Not recommended

Hepatic impairment

  • Pharmacokinetics unknown

Dosing Considerations

For BBS: Select patients who have a clinical diagnosis of BBS

Patient selection for POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency

  • Select patients demonstrating variants in POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR genes that are interpreted as pathogenic, likely pathogenic, or of uncertain significance (VUS)
  • Information on an FDA-approved test is available at http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics

Monitoring parameters

  • Monitor for GI adverse effects when initiating treatment
  • Periodically assess response; evaluate the impact of weight loss on growth and maturation
  • POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency: Evaluate weight loss after 12-16 weeks; if patient has not lost ≥5% of baseline body weight or 5% of baseline BMI for patients with continued growth potential, discontinue treatment
  • BBS: Evaluate weight loss after 1 year; discontinue if a patient has not lost ≥5% of baseline body weight or 5% of baseline BMI for patients aged <18 years

Limitations of use

  • Not indicated for the following conditions, as efficacy is not expected
    • Obesity due to suspected POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency with POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR variants classified as benign or likely benign
    • Other types of obesity not related to POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency, or BBS, including obesity associated with other genetic syndromes and general (polygenic) obesity

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Adverse Effects

>10%

Injection site reaction (96%)

Skin hyperpigmentation (78%)

Nausea (56%)

Diarrhea (37%)

Abdominal pain (33%)

Back pain (33%)

Fatigue (30%)

Vomiting (30%)

Depression (26%)

Upper respiratory tract infection (26%)

Spontaneous penile erections (23%)

Arthralgia (19%)

Asthenia (19%)

Dizziness (15%)

Dry mouth (15%)

Dry skin (15%)

Insomnia (15%)

Vertigo (15%)

Alopecia (11%)

Chills (11%)

Constipation (11%)

Influenzalike illness (11%)

Muscle spasm (11%)

Pain in extremity (11%)

Rash (11%)

Suicidal ideation (11%)

1-10%

Female sexual adverse reactions (7%)

Postmarketing Reports

Hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis

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Warnings

Contraindications

A prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to drug or excipients

Cautions

Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, reported; reactions generally occurred within minutes to hours after injecting drug; if hypersensitivity reactions occur, advise patients to promptly seek medical attention and discontinue use; therapy contraindicated in patients with a prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to drug or excipients

Sexual adverse reactions reported; spontaneous penile erections in males and sexual adverse reactions in females occurred in clinical studies; advise patients who have an erection lasting >4 hr to seek emergency medical attention

May cause generalized increased skin pigmentation and darkening of preexisting nevi owing to pharmacologic effects; reversible upon discontinuation; perform a full body skin examination before initiating and periodically during treatment

Contains benzyl alcohol; not approved for use in neonates or infants; serious adverse reactions including fatal reactions and gasping syndrome reported in premature neonates and low-birth-weight infants who received drugs containing benzyl alcohol as a preservative

Some drugs that target the CNS may cause depression or suicidal ideation; patients with a history of depression or suicidal ideation may be at increased risk for recurrent episodes while taking this medication; monitor patients for new-onset or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or any unusual changes in mood or behavior; consider discontinuing if patient experiences suicidal thoughts or behaviors or if clinically significant or persistent depression symptoms occur and periodically during treatment to monitor pre-existing and new skin pigmentary lesions

Drug interaction overview

  • Setmelanotide has low potential for pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions related to CYP450 enzymes, transporters, and plasma protein binding
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Pregnancy & Lactation

Pregnancy

Discontinue when pregnancy is recognized, unless benefits of therapy outweigh potential fetal risks

Data are unavailable regarding use in pregnant females to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes

For the general US population, weight loss offers no potential benefit to pregnant women and may result in fetal harm

Animal studies

  • Setmelanotide was not teratogenic when administered to pregnant rats or rabbits at doses 11 and 7 times the maximum recommended human dose, respectively

Clinical considerations

  • Maternal obesity increases risk for congenital malformations, including neural tube defects, cardiac malformations, oral clefts, and limb reduction defects
  • Additionally, weight loss during pregnancy may result in fetal harm, including increased risk of small for gestational age
  • Appropriate weight gain based on prepregnancy weight is currently recommended for all pregnant females, including those who are already overweight or obese, owing to the obligatory weight gain that occurs in maternal tissues during pregnancy

Lactation

Not recommended for use while breastfeeding

Data are unavailable regarding presence in human milk, effects on breastfed infants, or effects on milk production

Setmelanotide is present in the milk of rats; when a drug is present in rat milk, it is likely it will be present in human milk

Additionally, setmelanotide contains the preservative benzyl alcohol; benzyl alcohol is rapidly metabolized by lactating women, and benzyl alcohol exposure in the breastfed infant is unlikely (benzyl alcohol toxicity in premature neonates and low-weight infants reported in NICU)

Pregnancy Categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

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Pharmacology

Mechanism of Action

Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist designed to restore impaired MC4R pathway function caused by genetic variants that occur upstream of the receptor

MC4 receptors in the brain are involved in regulation of hunger, satiety, and energy expenditure; setmelanotide may reestablish MCR receptor pathway activity in patients with obesity due to POMC, PCSK1, and LEPR deficiency associated with insufficient activation of the MC4 receptor

Absorption

Peak plasma time: 8 hr

Peak plasma concentration: 37.9 ng/mL (3-mg dose)

AUC: 495 hr⋅ng/mL (3-mg dose)

Trough plasma concentration: 6.77 ng/mL (3-mg dose)

Steady-state achieved within 2 days

Distribution

Protein bound: 79.1%

Vd: 48.7 L

Metabolism

Thought to be metabolized into small peptides by catabolic pathways

Elimination

Half-life: ~11 hr

Total clearance: 4.86 L/hr

Excretion: Urine 39% (unchanged)

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Administration

SC Preparation

Before initiating, train patients and caregivers on proper injection technique; instruct how to use a 1-mL syringe with a 28- or 29-gauge needle appropriate for SC injection

Inspect visually before administration; solution should appear clear to slightly opalescent, colorless to slightly yellow

Discard if particulate matter or discoloration observed

Remove from refrigerator ~15 minutes before administering; alternatively, warm by rolling vial gently between palms of hands for 60 seconds

SC Administration

Do not administer IV or IM

Administer once daily, at the beginning of the day, without regard to meals

Inject SC in abdomen, thigh, or arm, rotating to different site each day

Missed dose: Resume once-daily regimen as prescribed with next scheduled dose

Storage

Unopened vial

  • Refrigerate at 2-8ºC (36-46ºF) until expiration date
  • Store at 2-25ºC (36-77ºF); excursion permitted to 30ºC (86ºF) for up to 30 days, or until expiration date (whichever is earlier)
  • Stored at >30ºC (>86ºF): Discard and do not use
  • If necessary, may be store at room temperature (≤30ºC [≤86ºF]) and then returned to refrigerated conditions

Opened vial

  • Store at 2-25ºC (36-77ºF); excursion permitted to 30ºC (86ºF) for up to 30 days, or until expiration date (whichever is earlier)
  • Stored at >30ºC (>86ºF): Discard and do not use
  • If necessary, may be store at room temperature (≤30ºC [≤86ºF]) and then returned to refrigerated conditions
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Images

No images available for this drug.
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Patient Handout

A Patient Handout is not currently available for this monograph.
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Formulary

FormularyPatient Discounts

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The above information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. Individual plans may vary and formulary information changes. Contact the applicable plan provider for the most current information.

Tier Description
1 This drug is available at the lowest co-pay. Most commonly, these are generic drugs.
2 This drug is available at a middle level co-pay. Most commonly, these are "preferred" (on formulary) brand drugs.
3 This drug is available at a higher level co-pay. Most commonly, these are "non-preferred" brand drugs.
4 This drug is available at a higher level co-pay. Most commonly, these are "non-preferred" brand drugs or specialty prescription products.
5 This drug is available at a higher level co-pay. Most commonly, these are "non-preferred" brand drugs or specialty prescription products.
6 This drug is available at a higher level co-pay. Most commonly, these are "non-preferred" brand drugs or specialty prescription products.
NC NOT COVERED – Drugs that are not covered by the plan.
Code Definition
PA Prior Authorization
Drugs that require prior authorization. This restriction requires that specific clinical criteria be met prior to the approval of the prescription.
QL Quantity Limits
Drugs that have quantity limits associated with each prescription. This restriction typically limits the quantity of the drug that will be covered.
ST Step Therapy
Drugs that have step therapy associated with each prescription. This restriction typically requires that certain criteria be met prior to approval for the prescription.
OR Other Restrictions
Drugs that have restrictions other than prior authorization, quantity limits, and step therapy associated with each prescription.
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Medscape prescription drug monographs are based on FDA-approved labeling information, unless otherwise noted, combined with additional data derived from primary medical literature.