Somapacitan: a once-weekly growth hormone
Clinical review pending
How somapacitan is used as a long-acting growth hormone, and which side effects and monitoring matter.
What is somapacitan?
Somapacitan, sold under the brand name Sogroya, is a modified form of human growth hormone. It stays in the body much longer than the natural hormone or conventional recombinant growth hormone. A small fatty-acid side chain lets it bind reversibly to albumin, the most abundant protein in the blood. This slows its elimination and stretches its effect to a full week. Somapacitan was developed under the code NNC0195-0092 and approved in the US in 2020. Source
How does somapacitan work?
Like natural growth hormone, somapacitan activates the growth hormone receptor. This prompts the liver and other tissues to make insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which is involved in growth and metabolic effects. The swap of one amino acid and the albumin-binding group do not change how the drug acts at the receptor; they change how long it stays in the blood. Thanks to reversible albumin binding, the drug is released gradually and keeps growth hormone activity going between weekly doses. Source
In adults with growth hormone deficiency, replacing the hormone improves body composition: fat mass goes down and lean mass is supported. In children whose bodies make too little of the hormone, it promotes growth in height. In the REAL-1 trial in adults, weekly somapacitan significantly reduced trunk fat compared with placebo 1 and showed results comparable to daily growth hormone. The practical advantage is a weekly rather than daily injection schedule.
Is somapacitan FDA-approved?
Yes. The FDA approved somapacitan in 2020 2. Further uses have been added since then; they are listed in the table.
It is given once a week as an injection under the skin.
What is somapacitan prescribed for?
Somapacitan is used for growth hormone replacement in adults with growth hormone deficiency and in children aged 2.5 years and older whose growth is impaired because they do not release enough growth hormone. According to the original article, it is also prescribed for children with idiopathic short stature, short stature after being born small for gestational age, and growth disorders associated with Noonan syndrome. The weekly schedule is meant to reduce the burden of daily injections.
What side effects have been reported?
According to the prescribing information, common side effects in adults include:
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Indigestion and vomiting.
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Sleep problems and dizziness.
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Swelling of the hands and feet.
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High blood pressure and weight gain. Source
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Tonsillitis, anemia and low cortisol levels. Source
Common side effects in children include:
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Cold symptoms, cough, and respiratory or ear infections. Source
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Fever and headache.
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Diarrhea and vomiting.
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Injection-site reactions.
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Pain in the arms or legs.
More serious risks and required monitoring include:
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Fluid retention and reduced insulin sensitivity, which can also occur with other growth hormone products. Source
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Monitoring for the known risks of growth hormones, including changes in glucose metabolism. Active cancer needs particular consideration when a doctor assesses whether the drug can be used. Source
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Rarely, raised pressure inside the skull, known as intracranial hypertension.
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Severe allergic reactions.
Studies at a glance
| Date | Newly approved use |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Adults with growth hormone deficiency |
| 2023 | Growth hormone deficiency in children |
| February 2026 | Idiopathic short stature in children aged 2.5 years and older |
| February 2026 | Short stature in children aged 2.5 years and older who were born small for gestational age |
| February 2026 | Growth disorders due to Noonan syndrome in children aged 2.5 years and older |
Sources cited in the original article
Sources: FDA prescribing information for Sogroya; the REAL 1 trial (Johannsson et al., The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2020, DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa049 1 ), indexed on PubMed.
Origin and editorial review status
Adapted for Nutrient Desk from the original article. The statements and source attributions of the original still require clinical review. This draft has not been cleared for indexing.