Pegvisomant
Pegvisomant is a modified growth-hormone protein that blocks the GH receptor. SOMAVERT is used to control excess IGF-1 in selected patients with acromegaly.
At a glance
- Evidence stage
- Approved use
- Regulatory status
- SOMAVERT is US-approved for acromegaly after inadequate response to surgery or radiation, or when those approaches are inappropriate; its goal is IGF-1 normalization.
- Research context
- Pegvisomant is a modified growth-hormone protein that blocks the GH receptor. SOMAVERT is used to control excess IGF-1 in selected patients with acromegaly.
What this is
- Pegvisomant is a modified growth-hormone protein that blocks the GH receptor. SOMAVERT is used to control excess IGF-1 in selected patients with acromegaly.
What this isn't
- A recommendation to use, prepare, combine, or administer a product
- Evidence that a related molecule or a differently formulated product has the same effects
Key terms
Pegvisomant is a modified growth-hormone protein that blocks the GH receptor. SOMAVERT is used to control excess IGF-1 in selected patients with acromegaly.
Pegvisomant binds growth-hormone receptors without triggering normal GH signaling, preventing endogenous hormone from activating them. This reduces downstream IGF-1 production. Unlike a medicine that suppresses pituitary GH secretion, it acts at the receptor level; a fall in IGF-1 does not demonstrate that a pituitary tumor has been removed or stopped producing hormone. Product label.
Evidence limits
How to read the evidence
The trial studied patients with documented acromegaly, many previously treated with surgery or radiation. It does not support using GH blockade for healthy aging or self-directed body-composition changes. GH assays can be misleading in this treatment context; the label emphasizes IGF-1 as the relevant biochemical treatment target rather than assuming GH and IGF-1 are interchangeable markers. Product-specific scope.
Sources appraised 2026-10-28. Educational information; not medical advice. Study findings apply to the populations, preparations and outcomes described.
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