Soleno reports death of patient who took genetic disorder treatment, shares fall

(Reuters) – Soleno Therapeutics said on Wednesday it is aware of the death of a 17 year old male who was on the company’s treatment for patients who experience feelings of intense and persistent hunger, sending its shares down 12%.

Soleno said the treating physician has reported that the death is not related to the treatment Vykat XR.

Vykat treats hyperphagia, the hallmark symptom of the Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by full or partial deletions on chromosome 15 that affect the regulation of gene expression, or how genes turn on and off.

Soleno said the patient, who also suffered from obesity and other diseases, died from an apparent pulmonary embolus, a blockage in a lung artery usually caused by a blood clot.

Prader-Willi syndrome is a disease where patients have a