Weekly somatrogon treatment significantly boosts height gain and IGF-1 in Turkish children with growth hormone deficiency
Background
Traditional daily growth hormone injections for pediatric growth hormone deficiency (GHD) often lead to compliance issues due to their frequent administration. Long-acting growth hormone preparations offer a promising solution by reducing injection frequency, potentially improving adherence and treatment outcomes. This study specifically investigates somatrogon, a long-acting human growth hormone, as a weekly treatment option to address the unmet need for more convenient and effective therapies in children with GHD, aiming to maintain IGF-1 levels within a safe and efficacious range.
Study Design
This real-world cohort study included 39 Turkish patients with GHD aged 3-18 years who had received weekly somatrogon therapy for at least 6 months. The mean treatment duration was 11.31 ± 2.72 months. Researchers evaluated anthropometric measurements (height, weight), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels, bone age/chronological age (BA/CA) ratio, and drug-related adverse events. Measurements were taken at baseline and at the final follow-up, with dose adjustments made if IGF-1 SDS exceeded +2 SDS.
Results
Weekly somatrogon therapy demonstrated significant efficacy in pediatric GHD patients. The mean annual height gain was 10.07 ± 0.61 cm, with a Δ height SDS of 0.64. The mean baseline IGF-1 SDS of -0.61 ± 1.15 significantly increased to 0.75 ± 1.26 at final follow-up (p < 0.01). No significant change was observed in the BA/CA ratio (p = 0.2).
Key Findings
- Weekly somatrogon therapy resulted in a mean annual height gain of 10.07 ± 0.61 cm.
- Mean IGF-1 SDS significantly increased from -0.61 at baseline to 0.75 at follow-up (p < 0.01).
- No serious adverse events were observed, indicating good tolerability.
- 12.8% (5 of 39) of patients required dose reduction due to IGF-1 SDS exceeding +2 SDS.
Why It Matters
Weekly somatrogon offers a convenient and effective alternative to daily growth hormone injections, potentially improving treatment adherence and quality of life for children with GHD and their families. This real-world data supports its use as a safe and effective early treatment option in routine clinical practice, providing a practical protocol for clinicians. While most IGF-1 levels remained normal, the need for dose reduction in 12.8% of patients highlights the importance of regular IGF-1 monitoring, especially in pubertal patients, to optimize dosing and prevent potential side effects. This finding suggests that individualized dosing strategies are crucial.
somatrogon
growth-hormone-deficiency
pediatric
real-world-data
cohort-study
igf-1