Hormone · FDA Approved
Mecasermin (Increlex)
FDA-approved
01 · Overview
Mecasermin is recombinant human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) consisting of 70 amino acids identical to the endogenous peptide hormone. It binds to IGF-1 receptors to promote growth and anabolic processes, bypassing the need for growth hormone receptor signaling.
Increlex is indicated for growth failure in children aged 2 years and older with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency, or with growth hormone gene deletion who have developed neutralizing antibodies to growth hormone (PMID 18481900).
02 · Research summary & key findings
The FDA approved mecasermin (Increlex) in 2005. In a multicenter, noncomparative trial of 76 children with severe IGF-1 deficiency due to growth hormone insensitivity, mean height velocity rose from 2.8 cm per year at baseline to 8.0 cm per year in the first year of treatment (PMID 18481900). In a European registry, most treatment-naive prepubertal children with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency showed improved linear growth, and hypoglycemia was the most common adverse event (PMID 33434161), occurring more often in patients with Laron syndrome or a prior history of hypoglycemia (PMID 37579214). A related product, mecasermin rinfabate (Iplex), was also approved in 2005 but is now discontinued, leaving Increlex as the remaining marketed IGF-1 therapy for this indication.
03 · Regulatory status
Mecasermin (Increlex) has received FDA approval and is available for clinical use under appropriate medical supervision. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for prescribing information.
Mecasermin (Increlex) is an FDA-approved medicine prescribed for the conditions on its label. It is not part of our intake, so we do not propose protocols for it. If you think it may be relevant to you, talk to your own doctor. How to ask your doctor.
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04 · Administration routes
- Subcutaneous injection
References
- [1]Mecasermin BioDrugs, 2008. PMID 18481900
- [2]Effectiveness and safety of rhIGF1 therapy in patients with or without Laron syndrome Eur J Endocrinol, 2021. PMID 33434161
- [3]Frequency and Predictive Factors of Hypoglycemia in Patients Treated With rhIGF-1: Data From the Eu-IGFD Registry J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2023. PMID 37579214
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Mecasermin"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Mecasermin"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Mecasermin"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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