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Somapacitan in Children Born SGA: 52-Week Efficacy, Safety, and IGF-I Response Results From the Phase 2 REAL5 Study
Anders Juul1,2, Philippe Backeljauw3, Michael Højby4
1Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark.
Insights
Once-weekly somapacitan demonstrated sustained, dose-dependent growth in children born small for gestational age. The treatment showed similar efficacy, safety, and IGF-I response compared to daily growth hormone therapy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth Hormone Therapy
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Evaluating somapacitan, a novel weekly growth hormone (GH) derivative, for treating short children born small for gestational age (SGA).
- Assessing the potential of a long-acting GH formulation to improve treatment adherence and outcomes in pediatric growth disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of once-weekly somapacitan versus daily GH in children born SGA.
- To evaluate the total and bioactive insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) response to both treatment regimens.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, controlled phase 2 study (REAL5) involving 62 GH-naïve, prepubertal children born SGA.
- Patients received weekly somapacitan (0.16-0.24 mg/kg) or daily GH (0.035-0.067 mg/kg) for 52 weeks.
- Assessed height velocity, IGF-I levels, safety, and tolerability across treatment groups.
Main Results:
- Somapacitan showed a dose-dependent increase in height velocity, with the highest dose (0.24 mg/kg/week) achieving 10.7 cm/year.
- Total and bioactive IGF-I responses were comparable between somapacitan and daily GH groups.
- All treatment groups exhibited similar safety and tolerability profiles.
Conclusions:
- Once-weekly somapacitan achieves sustained, dose-dependent growth in children born SGA over 52 weeks.
- Somapacitan at 0.24 mg/kg/week offers comparable efficacy, safety, and IGF-I response to daily GH (0.067 mg/kg/day).
- Weekly somapacitan presents a viable therapeutic option for managing short stature in SGA children.
Context:
Somapacitan, a once-weekly reversible albumin-binding growth hormone (GH) derivative, is evaluated in short children born small for gestational age (SGA).
Objective:
Evaluate efficacy, safety, tolerability as well as total and bioactive insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) response of once-weekly somapacitan compared to daily GH in children born SGA.
Methods:
REAL5 is a randomized, multicenter, open-label, controlled phase 2 study comprising a 26-week main phase, a 26-week extension, and an ongoing 4-year safety extension (NCT03878446), conducted at 38 sites across 12 countries. A total of 62 GH-treatment-naïve, prepubertal short children born SGA were randomized; 61 completed 52-weeks of treatment. Patients were randomized (1:1:1:1:1) to somapacitan (0.16, 0.20, or 0.24 mg/kg/week) or daily GH (0.035 or 0.067 mg/kg/day), all administered subcutaneously.
Results:
Estimated mean height velocity (HV; cm/year) at week 52 was 8.5, 10.4, and 10.7 cm/year for somapacitan 0.16, 0.20, and 0.24 mg/kg/week, respectively, and 9.3 and 11.2 cm/year for daily GH 0.035 and 0.067 mg/kg/day, respectively. Dose-dependent increases in total IGF-I, as well as peak IGF-I bioactivity, were observed for both treatments and were similar between comparator groups. For somapacitan, exposure-response modeling indicated highest efficacy with 0.24 mg/kg/week after 52 weeks of treatment. Similar safety and tolerability were demonstrated across all groups.
Conclusion:
A sustained dose-dependent growth response was demonstrated for somapacitan after 52 weeks of treatment. Overall, somapacitan 0.24 mg/kg/week provides similar efficacy, safety, and tolerability, as well as comparable bioactive and total IGF-I response, as daily GH (0.067 mg/kg/day) in children born SGA.
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