Somapacitan: a long-acting growth hormone derivative for treatment of growth hormone deficiency

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is characterized by inadequate HG production from the anterior pituitary gland. Adult patients with GHD have increased fat mass, an abnormal lipid profile, decreased lean body mass and bone mineral density, decreased muscle stre- ngth and exercise endurance, and a diminished quality of life. Adult GHD (AGHD) has been treated with GH re- placement therapy by daily subcutaneous injections. However, the administration of daily injections can be burdensome for some patients and affect treatment adherence. Somapacitan is a new long -acting human GH (hGH) analogue that is administered once a week by subcutaneous injection. It was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as GH replace- ment therapy for adults with GHD, becoming the first hGH therapy for AGHD administered by once -weekly injection, compared with other approved hGH therapies for AGHD administered by daily injection. This article reviews the pharmacokinetic, clinical and safety data that led to the approval of somapacitan as the first long -acting GH therapy for adults with GHD.

Automated summary

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a condition where the body does not produce enough growth hormone, leading to various physiological problems in adult patients. Traditionally, GHD has been treated with daily subcutaneous injections of growth hormone, which can be burdensome for patients. However, a new long-acting human growth hormone analog, Somapacitan, allows for once-weekly subcutaneous injections, making it the first weekly injection therapy for adult GHD compared to other daily injection therapies.