FDA approves Bristol-Myers drug for rare body fat disorder

(Reuters) – Bristol-Myers Squibb Co said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its drug to treat rare and potentially fatal disorders involving loss of body fat. The drug has been approved as a replacement therapy to treat complications caused by leptin hormone deficiency in patients with congenital or acquired generalized lipodystrophy. Generalized lipodystrophy patients experience a loss of fat tissue, especially under the skin, leading to low levels of leptin. The deficiency can lead to diabetes, pancreatitis and fatty liver disease.