Metreleptin in lipodystrophy: a profile of its use

Metreleptin [Myalepta (R) (EU); Myalept (R) (USA)] is a recombinant analogue of human leptin and currently the only drug available for the specific treatment of lipodystrophy (LD). In the EU, metreleptin (administered once daily via subcutaneous injection) is indicated as replacement therapy to treat the complications of leptin deficiency in patients aged >= 2 years with generalized LD and in patients aged >= 12 years with partial LD who have failed to achieve adequate metabolic control with standard treatments. Its use in these rare settings is supported by data from open-label clinical studies and clinical practice, with the totality of evidence indicating that metreleptin improves metabolic abnormalities associated with generalized or partial LD, including in paediatric patients. Other potential benefits include improved hepatic parameters/disease, nephropathy and survival, although the impact of the drug on these outcomes would benefit from further analysis. Metreleptin is generally well tolerated.