Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc.
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
By licensing out two of its peptides for metabolic and gastrointestinal disorders, Ipsen enabled the launch of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc. Rhythm will build a largely virtual company around Ipsen's molecules and IP related to analogs of the peptide hormones ghrelin and MC4, which regulate food intake, energy homeostasis, and gastrointestinal function. Rhythm's lead GI compound RM-131-is a potential treatment for gastrointestinal motility disorders such as postoperative ileus and diabetic gastroparesis. The new company's lead metabolic compound RM-493, which specifically targets the melanocortin-4 receptor-is a potential treatment for obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders.