The FDA has approved Novartis' drug, Isturisa, an oral tablet designed to treat Cushing's disease.
Cushing's disease is a rare disease caused by a pituitary tumor that causes the adrenal gland to produce an excessive amount of a hormone called cortisol. It is most common in people ages 30 to 50 and is found three times more often in women than men.
Cushing's can cause significant health issues such as high blood pressure, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, blood clots in the legs and lungs, bone loss and fractures, a weakened immune system and depression.
Isturisa is the first FDA-approved drug to treat cortisol overproduction and works by blocking an enzyme to prevent cortisol synthesis.
The drug is meant to treat adults with Cushing's who either can't have pituitary gland surgery or have had failed pituitary gland surgery to stop the disease. It received orphan drug designation.
Read the full news release here.