Pegvisomant

Medical uses

Pegvisomant is indicated for the treatment of adults with acromegaly.

Side effects

Side effects of pegvisomant include reactions at the injection site, swelling of the limbs, chest pain, hypoglycemia, nausea and hepatitis.

Discovery

Pegvisomant was discovered at Ohio University in 1987 by Distinguished Professor John Kopchick and graduate student Wen Chen at the Edison Biotechnology Institute. After completing clinical trials, it was approved for the treatment of acromegaly by the FDA in 2003 and marketed by Pfizer.

Structure

Pegvisomant is a protein containing 191 amino acid residues to which several polyethylene glycol polymers have been covalently bound in order to slow clearance from the blood. The protein is a modified version of human growth hormone designed to bind to and block the growth hormone receptor. It is manufactured using genetically modified E. coli bacteria.

Mechanism of action

Pegvisomant blocks the action of growth hormone on the growth hormone receptor to reduce the production of IGF-1. IGF-1 is responsible for most of the symptoms of acromegaly, and the normalization of its levels can control the symptoms.

Long-term treatment studies with pegvisomant as a monotherapy have shown it to be safe, and effective.

Research

Some studies show the potential of using pegvisomant as an anti-tumor treatment for certain types of cancers.

References

References

1. (18 November 2021). "Somavert- pegvisomant kit".
2. (17 September 2018). "Somavert EPAR".
3. (January 2007). "Treatment of acromegaly with the GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant in clinical practice: safety and efficacy evaluation from the German Pegvisomant Observational Study". European Journal of Endocrinology.
4. (March 2015). "Long-term treatment with pegvisomant as monotherapy in patients with acromegaly: experience from ACROSTUDY". Endocrine Practice.
5. (2004). "Scientific Discussion of Somavert". [[European Medicines Agency]].
6. (June 2006). "Drug-induced hepatitis in an acromegalic patient during combined treatment with pegvisomant and octreotide long-acting repeatable attributed to the use of pegvisomant". European Journal of Endocrinology.
7. (15 February 2011). "Ohio University, inventors to receive up to $52 million from drug license transactions". Ohio University.
8. (April 2003). "Discovery and mechanism of action of pegvisomant". European Journal of Endocrinology.
9. (2007). "Discovery and uses of pegvisomant: a growth hormone antagonist". Endokrynologia Polska.
10. (2 August 2006). "CEDAC Final REcommendation on Reconsideration and Reasons for Recommendation: Pegvisomant (Somavert - Pfizer Canada Inc.)". Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health.
11. (2015). "Pegvisomant Treatment in Acromegaly". Neuroendocrinology.
12. (August 2016). "Growth hormone receptor antagonism suppresses tumour regrowth after radiotherapy in an endometrial cancer xenograft model". Cancer Letters.
13. (August 2006). "The growth hormone receptor antagonist pegvisomant blocks both mammary gland development and MCF-7 breast cancer xenograft growth". Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.