Pegvisomant
Also referenced as: Somavert
A modified growth-hormone analogue that blocks rather than stimulates GH receptors.
- Evidence grade
- BModerate Human Evidence
Moderate Human Evidence
- Regulatory status
- FDA Approved for Specific Indication
Somavert is FDA-approved for acromegaly when surgery, radiotherapy or other medical treatments are inadequate or unsuitable according to label criteria.
- Human data
- Yes
Registered clinical trials exist
- Last reviewed
- October 27, 2026
Overview
A modified growth-hormone analogue that blocks rather than stimulates GH receptors.
Somavert is FDA-approved for acromegaly when surgery, radiotherapy or other medical treatments are inadequate or unsuitable according to label criteria.
GH-related structure does not imply anabolic stimulation; lowering IGF-1 in acromegaly is the therapeutic goal.
Why It's Being Studied
- Acromegaly
- GH receptor antagonism
Mechanism of Action
GH-receptor antagonism lowers IGF-1 signalling despite the molecule’s structural relationship to growth hormone.
GH-receptor antagonism lowers IGF-1 signalling despite the molecule’s structural relationship to growth hormone. GH-related structure does not imply anabolic stimulation; lowering IGF-1 in acromegaly is the therapeutic goal.
From molecular target to clinical evidence
Tap each stage to see what happens.
Background: Clinical Peptide Medicines
Clinical peptide medicines include endocrine treatments, antimicrobial drugs, receptor blockers and targeted diagnostic or cancer agents. They do not share one mechanism or one set of indications.
An approval belongs to a specific medicine and indication. A diagnostic tracer, an antibiotic and a hormone are not interchangeable wellness products; read each profile's own mechanism and prescribing source.
Research Areas & Routes Studied
- Acromegaly
- GH receptor antagonism
- Subcutaneous approved medicine
Evidence Summary
Human clinical evidence supports IGF-1 control in selected acromegaly populations.
Higher tiers carry more weight. Filled tiers have evidence for Pegvisomant; tap to read it.
- Human clinical evidence supports IGF-1 control in selected acromegaly populations.
1 cited sources.
- Prescribing label1
Human clinical evidence
- Human clinical evidence supports IGF-1 control in selected acromegaly populations.
Reported Adverse Events in Research
- Liver toxicity, injection-site tissue changes and the need for continued pituitary-tumor surveillance are important.
Limitations of Current Evidence
- GH-related structure does not imply anabolic stimulation; lowering IGF-1 in acromegaly is the therapeutic goal.
- Findings apply to the product, route and population studied; they do not establish benefits or safety for unrelated wellness uses or research-vial products.
How to Read This Research
- Is this a single molecule or a family of medicines?
- Is the use diagnostic, therapeutic or investigational?
- Does the quoted outcome match the exact product, formulation and population?
- Use the compound-specific mechanism above; this diagram describes drug development, not a shared biological pathway.
- Historical approval, present availability and off-label use are distinct questions.
- For radiopharmaceuticals and hospital medicines, specialist handling is part of the treatment context.
- Indication
- The condition and population for which a medicine is approved.
- Antagonist
- A compound that blocks activity at a receptor.
- Radiopharmaceutical
- A medicine containing a radioactive isotope for imaging or treatment.
Compare With Other Compounds
| Pegvisomant | Trofinetide | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence grade | B — Moderate Human Evidence | B — Moderate Human Evidence |
| Regulatory status | FDA Approved for Specific Indication | FDA Approved for Specific Indication |
| Human data | Yes | Yes |
| Clinical trials | Registered trials exist | Registered trials exist |
| Research routes | Subcutaneous approved medicine | Oral approved medicine |
| Cited sources | 1 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Research References
- Prescribing label
Pegvisomant — prescribing label