Clinical Research Directory

Rare Disease Patient Registry & Natural History Study - Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford

The Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford (CoRDS) is an international patient registry that serves as a centralized resource for rare disease research. Individuals affected by rare diseases, undiagnosed conditions, and disorders of unknown prevalence may voluntarily contribute health information to support natural history studies, participant recruitment, and other research efforts. Through partnerships with patient advocacy organizations and researchers worldwide, CoRDS helps connect rare disease communities with research opportunities while advancing knowledge across more than 7,000 rare diseases. Participation is free of charge.

Real-World Effects of MC4R Agonist Therapy in BBS and Severe Genetic Obesity

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) and other rare disorders associated with impairment of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway are characterized by severe early-onset obesity, hyperphagia, and substantial morbidity. Setmelanotide, an MC4R agonist, is approved in Europe for selected genetic obesity disorders and reimbursed in Germany for eligible patients. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, treatment persistence, metabolic outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes of Setmelanotide under real-world conditions. The registry is designed to allow future inclusion of additional MC4R agonists as they become approved and clinically available. The study will primarily be conducted at University Hospital Essen and will collect longitudinal routine clinical data from pediatric and adult patients receiving MC4R agonist therapy according to approved indications.