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 strength and exercise endurance, and a diminished quality of life. Adult GHD (AGHD) has been treated with GH replacement 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 replacement 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.