Impact of the Melanocortin-4 Receptor Agonist Setmelanotide on MASLD and Kidney Function in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

The melanocortin-4 receptor agonist setmelanotide compensates for upstream gene defects in the brain leptin-melanocortin pathway and reduces hyperphagia and obesity in selected monogenic obesity forms and Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS). We aimed to evaluate the short-term impact of setmelanotide treatment in BBS presenting original real-world data focusing on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and kidney function.

This monocentric, prospective observational cohort study was performed between June and December 2023 and included patients above the age of 6 years with genetically confirmed BBS, obesity, and/or hyperphagia and planned setmelanotide therapy. Ultrasound examination of the liver including shear wave elastography, dispersion and attenuation imaging (ATI), a bioimpedance analysis, and a hyperphagia questionnaire survey were applied in addition to clinical data collection.

Twenty-six patients with BBS (mean age 19.2 years, range [6.2; 51.8]; mean body mass index (BMI) z-score 2.95, range [1.32; 4.84]) were included. All were classified with MASLD (54% S3, 23% each S1 and S2). After 6 months of setmelanotide treatment, estimated glomerular filtration rate increased up to 10.1 mL/min/1.73 m² (95% confidence interval (CI) [4.3; 15.9]). The following parameters also improved: BMI z-score -0.5 (95% CI [-0.6; -0.3]); hyperphagia score -12.3 (95% CI [-15.5; -9.0]); total body fat -3.1% (95% CI [-5.7; -0.5]); ATI -0.14 dB/cm/MHZ (95% CI [-0.17; -0.11]). A total of 85% of patients exhibited either resolution of MASLD or stabilization at grade S1. MASLD improvement correlated only with liver size, not BMI reduction.

Setmelanotide treatment is associated with improvement of MASLD independent of BMI reduction as well as increased glomerular filtration rate in BBS.