MONDAY, Feb. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Korlym (mifepristone) has
been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat
endogenous Cushing's syndrome, a disabling disorder caused by
overproduction of the so-called "stress hormone," cortisol.
Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and increases blood
sugar, making it particularly dangerous for people with diabetes.
Korlym does not decrease production of the hormone, but reduces the
effects of overproduction, the FDA said in a news release.
The approval is for people with endogenous (of internal cause)
Cushing's syndrome who have type 2 diabetes and who either haven't
responded to previous surgery or aren't candidates for new surgery.
Only about 5,000 people in the United States are likely to be
eligible for the drug, the agency said.
The medication was evaluated in clinical studies involving 50
people. Participants who took Korlym had "significant improvement
in blood sugar control," the FDA said.
Although the chances of a person with Cushing's syndrome
becoming pregnant are slim, Korlym 's label warns that the drug
should never be used by expectant women, since it is likely to
"terminate a pregnancy," the agency said.
Common side effects observed during clinical testing included
nausea and vomiting, fatigue, headache, swelling of the
extremities, dizziness and loss of appetite.
Korlym is produced by Corcept Therapeutics, based in Menlo Park,
Calif.
More information
To learn more about
Cushing's, visit Medline Plus.