Efficacy and safety of mecasermin rinfabate

Stephen F. Kemp, John L. Fowlkes, Kathryn M. Thrailkill

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

There has been interest in using recombinant human (rh) insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I (rhIGF-I) to treat short stature, either alone or in combination with its binding protein (insulin-like growth factor binding protein [IGFBP]-3). IGF-I has been shown to increase growth velocity in children with IGF deficiency, either as a result of growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS) or IGF gene deletion. However, there have been adverse events, particularly hypoglycaemia, reported with administration of unbound rhIGF-I. In addition, the serum half-life of unbound rhIGF-I is shorter when administered to patients with GHIS, who have low serum concentrations of its binding proteins IGFBP-3 and acid-labile subunit (ALS), than when administered to normal volunteers or to the patient with an IGF-I gene deletion (who had normal levels of IGFBP-3). iPlex™ (mecasermin rinfabate), an equimolar mixture of IGF-I and its binding protein IGFBP-3, was developed to prolong the half-life and to counteract acute adverse events (particularly hypoglycaemia) associated with administration of IGF-I. Although there are no published data on the efficacy of mecasermin rinfabate in treating growth disorders, it does appear that mecasermin rinfabate has a longer half-life in patients with GHIS than unbound IGF-I, and fewer reports of adverse events (including hypoglycaemia) when administered to patients with diabetes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)533-538
Number of pages6
JournalExpert Opinion on Biological Therapy
Volume6
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006

Keywords

  • GHIS
  • Growth hormone
  • Growth hormone insensitivity syndrome
  • Hypoglycaemia
  • Insulin-like growth factors
  • Laron syndrome
  • Short stature

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Clinical Biochemistry

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