11:48 AM EDT, 03/25/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Rhythm Pharmaceuticals ( RYTM ) said Monday that the first patients were dosed in the phase 1 trial of RM-718 to treat obesity.

RM-718 is a weekly melanocortin-4 receptor-specific agonist that has demonstrated the potential to reduce body weight and hunger in preclinical studies, the company said.

The three-part study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of RM-718. Parts A and B will involve testing different doses in healthy participants with obesity aged 18 to 55, while part C examines its effects on patients aged 12 to 65 with hypothalamic obesity, the company said.

The company said it expects to enroll 96 participants in the study.

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