Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

Levels of several hunger-regulating hormones are dysregulated in people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), which likely contributes to the excessive hunger that characterizes the condition, a study suggests. Clustering patients based on these hormone levels could help to detect PWS and identify targets for therapies, researchers say. The study, “…

A low-cost screening test called methylation-specific quantitative melt analysis (MS-QMA) could feasibly be used to conduct newborn screening for Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and related conditions, according to a new study. The study, “Feasibility of Screening for Chromosome 15 Imprinting Disorders in 16579 Newborns by Using a…

In people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), certain parts of the brain associated with decision-making and reward processing are less active in response to the sight of food, a study has found. The findings suggest that people with PWS get less of a “reward” feeling from eating than their typically…

Saniona is launching a Phase 2b clinical trial of Tesomet to evaluate its potential in lessening the uncontrollable hunger of people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). “The initiation of this Phase 2b clinical trial of Tesomet in Prader-Willi syndrome follows our recent initiation of a Phase 2b clinical…

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) may help to reduce skin-picking behavior in some people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), but many patients do not benefit from NAC treatment, a new study found. “NAC should continue to be considered as a treatment option for skin picking in PWS as over a third of severely…

A class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) may help reduce appetite and promote weight loss for people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), according to a review paper. The paper’s authors called for clinical trials to test these medicines in people with PWS. Their paper, “The…

Excessive eating in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) increases the risk of mortality not only by making patients prone to obesity and its associated health problems, but also by raising the risk of accidents like choking, a new study indicates. “There are the longer-term problems that arise through obesity and the…

During pregnancy, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) may manifest as an excess of fluid around the developing fetus coupled with restricted fetal growth and decreased fetal movement, a new report indicates. These signs should alert clinicians to consider testing for the possibility of a PWS diagnosis, the researchers wrote. The…

People with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have smaller pituitary glands than their typically-developing peers, according to data from a small study. The findings also suggest that altered pituitary size is associated with behavioral abnormalities in PWS. Results were published in the journal Biomarkers in Neuropsychiatry, in the study “…

Aardvark Therapeutics has raised $29 million in financing to help support three planned Phase 2 clinical trials of its lead compound, ARD-101, an investigational therapy for Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and other disorders. Financing was led by Sorrento Therapeutics, with participation from other investors and support from the…