Steve Bryson, PhD,  science writer—

Signifor (pasireotide), a treatment for Cushing’s disease patients for whom surgery failed or is not an option, significantly reduces the size of benign pituitary tumors in more than 40% of people with the condition, according to a review of published studies. However, the researchers noted that tumor reduction was…

People with active Cushing’s disease show increased production of red blood cells due to the presence of a type of altered blood stem cell that show abnormal activation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling, a study shows. The GR is the receptor protein activated by glucocorticoids, or steroid hormones, including…

Lowering excess cortisol within cells using SPI-62, an investigational treatment of Cushing’s-related conditions, did not affect urinary cortisol levels, a standard measure of therapy effectiveness in clinical trials, an analysis of previous trial data showed. “Normalized urinary free cortisol, or UFC, is a standard therapeutic target for patients with Cushing’s…

CRN04894, a first-in-class, experimental oral medication for Cushing’s disease, led to a dose-dependent drop in blood and urine cortisol levels in healthy volunteers, top-line data from a Phase 1 trial showed. According to Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, the therapy’s developer, patient studies are expected to launch later this year. In…

People with Cushing’s syndrome, a group of conditions that includes Cushing’s disease, have a three-times-higher risk of mortality compared with the general population, according to a pooled analysis of multiple studies. Preventing and managing co-existing conditions, especially cardiovascular disease, in addition to treating Cushing’s, may benefit at least half…

Using a mouse model, scientists have found that the small molecule tubastatin A may be a potential treatment for Cushing’s disease. Tubastatin A was shown to reduce the activity of genes encoding the precursor of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and to lessen the growth of ACTH-producing tumor cells isolated…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Recorlev (levoketoconazole) to treat adults with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome for whom surgery is not an option or has not been effective. The therapy is expected to be available in the U.S. in the coming months. To ensure access to Recorlev,…

Mutations in the KDM1A gene are responsible for the development of a rare, food-dependent form of Cushing’s syndrome, according to a recent study. “In general, rare diseases are generally underdiagnosed in clinics,” Isabelle Bourdeau, MD, the study’s co-author, said in a press release. “By identifying this new gene, we…

CRN04894, a first-in-class, investigational oral medication to treat Cushing’s disease, demonstrated pharmacologic proof-of-concept with a dose-dependent suppression of cortisol, according to data from a Phase 1 study. CRN04894, developed by Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, is designed to block the interaction (antagonist) between the MC2R receptor, found specifically on the…

A type of tumor in the brain’s pituitary gland, which causes Cushing’s disease, has been found to be more invasive, and its presence lowers the likelihood of remission following surgery. According to scientists, these study findings support the need to identify types of pituitary tumors to minimize post-surgical relapse.