Somapacitan in children born small for gestational age: 4-year results from phase 2
Anders Juul1,2, Michael Højby3, Masanobu Kawai4
1Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark.
Insights
Once-weekly somapacitan demonstrated sustained efficacy and safety in children born small for gestational age (SGA) with short stature over four years. Patient preference and adherence improved with somapacitan compared to daily growth hormone (GH) therapy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth Hormone Therapy
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Children born small for gestational age (SGA) often experience short stature.
- Growth hormone (GH) therapy is a standard treatment, but daily injections can impact adherence and quality of life.
- Long-acting GH formulations aim to improve treatment convenience and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of once-weekly somapacitan in children born SGA with short stature.
- To assess outcomes after switching from daily GH to somapacitan.
- To compare patient preference and adherence between somapacitan and daily GH.
Main Methods:
- A global, randomized, open-label, controlled phase 2 study (REAL5) involving 62 children born SGA.
- Participants received once-weekly somapacitan or daily GH for up to 208 weeks.
- Analysis included height standard deviation scores, safety assessments, and patient preference questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Continuous height standard deviation score increases were observed from week 52 to week 208, including in patients who switched to somapacitan.
- The safety and tolerability of somapacitan were comparable to daily GH.
- A significant majority of patients preferred somapacitan (87%) and expected better adherence (80%).
Conclusions:
- Once-weekly somapacitan provides long-term continuous efficacy, safety, and tolerability in children born SGA.
- Somapacitan offers a viable alternative to daily GH, with improved patient preference and adherence.
- These findings support the use of somapacitan for up to four years in this pediatric population.
Objective:
Evaluate long-term efficacy, safety, and tolerability of once-weekly somapacitan, a long-acting growth hormone (GH) derivative, in children born small for gestational age (SGA) with short stature, including after switching from daily GH.
Design:
REAL5 (NCT03878446) is a global, randomized, open-label, controlled phase 2 study comprising a 26-week main phase, 26-week extension I, and an ongoing 4-year extension II.
Methods:
Sixty-two children born SGA with short stature were recruited at 38 clinics across 12 countries and 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) until week 52 (inclusive main phase and extension I). Sixty participants entered extension II. Forty-eight participants switched to somapacitan 0.24 mg/kg/week from cohorts randomized to daily GH or lower somapacitan doses. Fifty-five children completed 208 weeks of treatment. Novel safety and efficacy results from week 52 to 208 are presented here.
Results:
Across all treatment arms, continuous increases in height standard deviation scores were observed from week 52 to week 208, including after switch to somapacitan 0.24 mg/kg/week. The safety and tolerability profile for somapacitan 0.24 mg/kg/week was similar to the well-established safety and tolerability profile for daily GH in SGA. Patient preference questionnaire results indicate that most respondents (87%) prefer somapacitan over daily GH. Most respondents (80%) answered that they expect to be more adherent to treatment with somapacitan.
Conclusions:
These results support long-term continuous efficacy, safety, and tolerability of GH therapy with somapacitan 0.24 mg/kg/week for up to 4 years in children born SGA, including after switching from daily GH.
Clinicaltrials.Gov:
NCT03878446.
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