Once-weekly Somatrogon Maintains Growth in GHD Children After Switching from Daily GH

Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) require long-term growth hormone (GH) therapy, traditionally administered via daily subcutaneous injections. This frequent dosing regimen often leads to significant challenges with treatment adherence, impacting overall efficacy and patient outcomes. Long-acting Growth Hormone (LAGH) analogs, such as somatrogon, aim to address this critical gap by reducing injection frequency, thereby potentially improving adherence and quality of life for pediatric patients and their families. Somatrogon is currently the only LAGH available in Italy for pediatric use, making real-world data on its effectiveness and patient acceptance crucial.

This retrospective, monocentric study evaluated 23 children and adolescents diagnosed with GHD who had switched from daily GH therapy to once-weekly somatrogon. Patients were followed for at least 12 months post-switch. Researchers analyzed changes in growth velocity (cm/year), serum IGF-1 levels, and IGF-1 Standard Deviation Score (SDS) before and after the switch. Growth velocity was also normalized to age-based targets. Adherence and patient preferences were assessed using a dedicated questionnaire, providing insights into the practical benefits and challenges of the weekly regimen.

The study found that mean height velocity was slightly, but significantly, higher after the therapeutic switch to weekly somatrogon (7.91 ± 1.7 cm/year) compared to daily GH therapy (7.12 ± 1.3 cm/year, p = 0.04). However, no significant differences were observed when growth velocity was normalized to age-based targets, indicating comparable overall growth promotion. Similarly, IGF-1 and IGF-1 SDS levels remained consistent, showing no significant variation after the transition to weekly therapy. Patient feedback revealed a strong preference for the weekly regimen, suggesting improved convenience and reduced burden. Despite this preference, the study noted that some patients still reported missing doses and experiencing a few side effects, highlighting areas for continued patient education and support. The overall findings confirm that weekly somatrogon effectively maintains growth-promoting effects comparable to daily GH therapy.

Mean height velocity was slightly higher after the therapeutic switch (7.91 ± 1.7 cm/year) vs. daily GH (7.12 ± 1.3 cm/year, p = 0.04).