Get your patient on Humatrope (Somatropin)

HUMATROPE is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with:

• growth failure due to inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone (GH),
• short stature associated with Turner syndrome,
• Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS), height standard deviation score (SDS) <-2.25, and associated with growth rates unlikely to permit attainment of adult height in the normal range,
• short stature or growth failure in short stature homeobox-containing gene (SHOX) deficiency,
• short stature born small for gestational age (SGA) with no catch-up growth by 2 years to 4 years of age.

HUMATROPE is indicated for the replacement of endogenous GH in adults with GH deficiency.

• Therapy with HUMATROPE should be supervised by a physician who is experienced in the diagnosis and management of patients with the conditions for which HUMATROPE is indicated [see Indications and Usage (1 )] .
• Fundoscopic examination should be performed routinely before initiating treatment with HUMATROPE to exclude preexisting papilledema, and periodically thereafter [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5 )] .
• Leave HUMATROPE at room temperature for 10 minutes prior to administration.
• Administer HUMATROPE by subcutaneous injection to the back of the upper arm, abdomen, buttock, or thigh with regular rotation of injection sites to avoid lipoatrophy.

• Individualize dosage for each patient based on the growth response.
• Divide the calculated weekly HUMATROPE dosage into equal doses given either 6 or 7 days per week.
• The recommended weekly dose in milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight for pediatric patients is:
  • Pediatric GH Deficiency:0.18 mg/kg/week to 0.3 mg/kg/week (0.026 to 0.043 mg/kg/day)
  • Turner Syndrome:Up to 0.375 mg/kg/week (up to.054 mg/kg/day)
  • Idiopathic Short Stature:Up to 0.37 mg/kg/week (up to 0.053 mg/kg/day)
  • SHOX Deficiency:0.35 mg/kg/week (0.05 mg/kg/day)
  • Small for Gestational Age (SGA):Up to 0.47 mg/kg/week (up to 0.067 mg/kg/day)
    • In very short pediatric patients, height SDS less than -3, and older pubertal pediatric patients consider initiating treatment with a larger dose of HUMATROPE (up to 0.067 mg/kg/day). Consider a gradual reduction in dosage if substantial catch-up growth is observed during the first few years of therapy. In pediatric patients less than 4 years of age with less severe short stature, baseline height SDS values between -2 and -3, consider initiating treatment at 0.033 mg/kg/day and titrate the dose as needed.
• Assess compliance and evaluate other causes of poor growth such as hypothyroidism, under-nutrition, advanced bone age and antibodies to recombinant human GH if patients experience failure to increase height velocity, particularly during the first year of treatment.
• Discontinue HUMATROPE for stimulation of linear growth once epiphyseal fusion has occurred [see Contraindications (4 )] .

• Patients who were treated with somatropin for GH deficiency in childhood and whose epiphyses are closed should be reevaluated before continuation of somatropin for GH deficient adults.
• Consider using a lower starting dose and smaller dose increment increases for geriatric patients as they may be at increased risk for adverse reactions with HUMATROPE than younger individuals [see Use in Specific Populations (8.5 )] .
• Women may require higher doses and patients receiving oral estrogen may require higher doses [see Drug Interactions (7 )] .
• Administer the prescribed dose daily.
• Either of two HUMATROPE dosing regimens may be used:
  • Non-weight based:
    • Initiate HUMATROPE with a dose of approximately 0.2 mg/day (range, 0.15 mg/day to 0.3 mg/day) and increase the dose every 1-2 months by increments of approximately 0.1 mg/day to 0.2 mg/day, according to individual patient requirements based on the clinical response and serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations.
    • Use the patient's clinical response, adverse reactions, and determination of age- and gender-adjusted serum IGF-1 concentrations as guidance in dose titration.
    • Maintenance dosages will vary considerably from person to person, and between male and female patients.
  • Weight-based:
    • Initiate HUMATROPE at 0.006 mg/kg daily and increase the dose according to individual patient requirements to a maximum of 0.0125 mg/kg daily.
    • Use the patient's clinical response, adverse reactions, and determination of age- and gender-adjusted serum IGF-1 concentrations as guidance in dose titration.
    • Maintenance dosages will vary considerably from person to person, and between male and female patients
    • Not recommended for obese patients as they are more likely to experience adverse reactions with this regimen.

• Each single-patient-use HUMATROPE cartridge is designed for use only with the appropriate corresponding HumatroPen ^® supplied separately.
  • Reconstitute each cartridge of HUMATROPE using only the diluent syringe that accompanies the cartridge. Do not shake. The reconstituted solution should be clear.
  • Inspect visually for particulate matter and discoloration. If the resulting solution is cloudy or contains particulate matter do not use.
  • The somatropin concentrations for the reconstituted HUMATROPE cartridges are as follows in Table 1 :

    Cartridge	Somatropin Concentration
    6 mg	2.08 mg/mL
    12 mg	4.17 mg/mL
    24 mg	8.33 mg/mL

• Reconstituted cartridges of HUMATROPE are stable for up to 28 days when refrigerated at 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C). Do not leave at room temperature more than 30 minutes per day. Avoid freezing the reconstituted cartridge. Protect HUMATROPE from light during storage.
• For patients with known hypersensitivity to the diluent supplied with the HUMATROPE cartridge [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6 )] , do not use HUMATROPE cartridge.

Safety and effectiveness of HUMATROPE in pediatric patients have been established in growth failure due to inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone, short stature associated with Turner syndrome, idiopathic short stature (ISS), short stature or growth failure in SHOX deficiency, and short stature in children born small for gestational age (SGA) with no catch-up growth by 2 years to 4 years of age.

The safety and effectiveness of HUMATROPE in patients aged 65 years and over has not been evaluated in clinical studies. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the action of somatropin, and therefore may be more prone to development of adverse reactions. A lower starting dose and smaller dose increments should be considered for older patients [see Dosage and Administration (2.3 )] .

Increased mortality in patients with acute critical illness due to complications following open heart surgery, abdominal surgery or multiple accidental trauma, or those with acute respiratory failure has been reported after treatment with pharmacologic doses of somatropin [see Contraindications (4 )] . Two placebo-controlled clinical studies in non-GH deficient adult patients (n=522) with these conditions in intensive care units revealed a significant increase in mortality (42% vs. 19%) among somatropin-treated patients (doses 5.3-8.0 mg/day) compared to those receiving placebo. The safety of continuing HUMATROPE treatment in patients receiving replacement doses for approved indications who concurrently develop these illnesses has not been established. HUMATROPE is not indicated for the treatment of non-GH deficient adults.

There have been reports of sudden death after initiating therapy with somatropin in pediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome who had one or more of the following risk factors: severe obesity, history of upper airway obstruction or sleep apnea, or unidentified respiratory infection. Male patients with one or more of these factors may be at greater risk than females. Patients with Prader-Willi syndrome should be evaluated for signs of upper airway obstruction and sleep apnea before initiation of treatment with somatropin. If, during treatment with somatropin, patients show signs of upper airway obstruction (including onset of, or increased, snoring) and/or new onset sleep apnea, treatment should be interrupted. All patients with Prader-Willi syndrome treated with somatropin should also have effective weight control and be monitored for signs of respiratory infection, which should be diagnosed as early as possible and treated aggressively [see Contraindications (4 )] . HUMATROPE is not indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients who have growth failure due to Prader-Willi syndrome.

Treatment with somatropin may decrease insulin sensitivity, particularly at higher doses. New onset type 2 diabetes mellitus has been reported in patients taking somatropin. Previously undiagnosed impaired glucose tolerance and overt diabetes mellitus may be unmasked. Monitor glucose levels periodically in all patients receiving HUMATROPE, especially in those with risk factors for diabetes mellitus, such as obesity, Turner syndrome, or a family history of diabetes mellitus. Patients with preexisting type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance should be monitored closely. The doses of antidiabetic agents may require adjustment when HUMATROPE is initiated.

Intracranial hypertension (IH) with papilledema, visual changes, headache, nausea, and/or vomiting has been reported in a small number of patients treated with somatropins. Symptoms usually occurred within the first eight (8) weeks after the initiation of somatropin therapy. In all reported cases, IH-associated signs and symptoms rapidly resolved after cessation of therapy or a reduction of the somatropin dose. Fundoscopic examination should be performed routinely before initiating treatment with HUMATROPE to exclude preexisting papilledema, and periodically thereafter. If papilledema is observed by fundoscopy during somatropin treatment, treatment should be stopped. If somatropin-induced IH is diagnosed, treatment with HUMATROPE can be restarted at a lower dose after IH-associated signs and symptoms have resolved. Patients with Turner syndrome may be at increased risk for the development of IH.

Serious systemic hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions and angioedema have been reported with postmarketing use of somatropins. Patients and caregivers should be informed that such reactions are possible and that prompt medical attention should be sought if an allergic reaction occurs. Do not use HUMATROPE in patients with known hypersensitivity to somatropin or any of the excipients in HUMATROPE. Do not use HUMATROPE cartridges in patients with known hypersensitivity to metacresol or glycerin [see Dosage and Administration (2.4 ), Contraindications (4 )] .

Fluid retention during somatropin replacement therapy may frequently occur. Clinical manifestations of fluid retention (e.g. edema, arthralgia, myalgia, nerve compression syndromes including carpal tunnel syndrome/paresthesia) are usually transient and dose dependent.

Patients receiving somatropin therapy who have or are at risk for pituitary hormone deficiency(s) may be at risk for reduced serum cortisol levels and/or unmasking of central (secondary) hypoadrenalism. In addition, patients treated with glucocorticoid replacement for previously diagnosed hypoadrenalism may require an increase in their maintenance or stress doses following initiation of HUMATROPE treatment. Monitor patients for reduced serum cortisol levels and/or need for glucocorticoid dose increases in those with known hypoadrenalism [see Drug Interactions (7 )].

Undiagnosed/untreated hypothyroidism may prevent an optimal response to HUMATROPE, in particular, the growth response in pediatric patients. Patients with Turner syndrome have an inherently increased risk of developing autoimmune thyroid disease and primary hypothyroidism. In patients with GH deficiency, central (secondary) hypothyroidism may first become evident or worsen during somatropin treatment. Therefore, patients treated with somatropin should have periodic thyroid function tests performed, and thyroid hormone replacement therapy should be initiated or appropriately adjusted when indicated.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis may occur more frequently in patients undergoing rapid growth. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis may lead to osteonecrosis. Cases of slipped capital femoral epiphysis with or without osteonecrosis have been reported in pediatric patients with short stature receiving somatropin. Evaluate pediatric patients receiving HUMATROPE with the onset of a limp or complaints of hip or knee pain for slipped capital femoral epiphysis and osteonecrosis and manage accordingly.

Somatropin increases the growth rate, and progression of existing scoliosis can occur in patients who experience rapid growth. Somatropin has not been shown to increase the occurrence of scoliosis. Monitor patients with a history of scoliosis for progression of scoliosis.

Cases of pancreatitis have been reported in pediatric patients and adults receiving somatropins. The risk may be greater risk in pediatric patients compared with adults. Published literature indicates that girls who have Turner syndrome may be at greater risk than other pediatric patients receiving somatropins. Pancreatitis should be considered in patients who develop abdominal pain.

When somatropins are administered subcutaneously at the same site over a long period of time, tissue atrophy may result. Rotate injection sites when administering HUMATROPE to reduce this risk [see Dosage and Administration (2.1 )] .

Serum levels of inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone and IGF-I may increase after HUMATROPE therapy.

Because clinical studies are conducted under varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed during the clinical studies performed with one somatropin formulation cannot always be directly compared to the rates observed during the clinical studies performed with a different somatropin formulation, and may not reflect the adverse reaction rates observed in practice.

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of somatropin or HUMATROPE. Because these adverse events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions — Serious systemic hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylactic reactions and angioedema have been reported with postmarketing use of somatropins

Neurologic — Headaches (common in pediatric patients and occasional in adults)

Skin — Increase in size or number of cutaneous nevi

Endocrine — Gynecomastia

Gastrointestinal — Pancreatitis

Metabolic — New-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders — Osteonecrosis in pediatric patients

Neoplasia — Leukemia has been reported in a small number of GH deficient pediatric patients treated with somatropin

Somatropin binds to dimeric GH receptors located within the cell membranes of target tissue cells. This interaction results in intracellular signal transduction and subsequent induction of transcription and translation of GH-dependent proteins including IGF-1, IGF BP-3 and acid-labile subunit. Somatropin has direct tissue and metabolic effects or mediated indirectly by IGF-1, including stimulation of chondrocyte differentiation, and proliferation, stimulation of hepatic glucose output, protein synthesis and lipolysis.

Somatropin stimulates skeletal growth in pediatric patients with GHD as a result of effects on the growth plates (epiphyses) of long bones. The stimulation of skeletal growth increases linear growth rate (height velocity) in most somatropin-treated pediatric patients. Linear growth is facilitated in part by increased cellular protein synthesis.

Subcutaneous administration of a single dose of Humatrope (0.033 mg/kg body weight) in healthy volunteers (10 males, 10 females) resulted in an increased median IGF-1 level from 202 ng/mL (men) and 107 ng/mL (women) predose to maximal level of 362 ng/mL (men) and 234 ng/mL (women) after a median of 21 hours (men) and 14 hours (women).

The observed incidence of anti-drug antibodies is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Differences in assay methods preclude meaningful comparisons of the incidence of anti-drug antibodies in the studies described below with the incidence of anti-drug antibodies in other studies, including those of HUMATROPE or other somatropins.

In a clinical study with HUMATROPE during the first 6 months of HUMATROPE therapy in 314 naive patients, 1.6% developed specific antibodies to HUMATROPE (binding capacity ≥0.02 mg/L). None had antibody concentrations which exceeded 2 mg/L. Throughout 8 years of this same study, two patients (0.6%) had binding capacity >2 mg/L. Neither patient demonstrated a decrease in growth velocity at or near the time of increased antibody production. It has been reported that growth attenuation from pituitary-derived GH may occur when antibody concentrations are >1.5 mg/L.

Carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and impairment of fertility studies have not been conducted with HUMATROPE.

An open-label, uncontrolled, multicenter study with Humatrope was conducted in, 314 treatment-naive children aged >2 years who had GH deficiency. Patients were treated with HUMATROPE (0.06 mg/kg 3 times per week) for up to 8 years. The efficacy of HUMTROPE was assessed by evaluating height velocity. Mean increase in height velocity from baseline of 3.6 ± 1.9 cm/year to 8.8 ± 2.3 cm/year was achieved by 1 year of treatment. Height velocity remained increased above baseline for a small subset of patients (n=12) who remained on-study up to 8 years during the long-term extension phase (6.3 ± 2.5 cm/year at year 8 of treatment).

One long-term, randomized, open-label, Canadian multicenter, concurrently controlled study, two long-term, open-label multicenter, historically controlled US studies and one long-term, randomized, US dose-response study were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of HUMATROPE for treatment of short stature due to Turner syndrome.

The randomized, open-label, Canadian study (NCT00191113) compared near-adult height outcomes for HUMATROPE-treated patients to those of a concurrent control group who received no injections. The HUMATROPE-treated patients received a dosage of 0.3 mg/kg/week given in divided doses 6 times per week from a mean age of 11.7 years for a mean duration of 4.7 years. Puberty was induced with a standardized estrogen regimen initiated at 13 years of age for both treatment groups.

In two of the US studies the effect of long-term treatment with Humatrope (0.375 mg/kg/week given in divided doses either 3 times per week or daily) on adult height was determined by comparing adult heights in the treated patients with those of age-matched historical controls with Turner syndrome who received no growth-promoting therapy. Puberty was induced with a standardized estrogen regimen initiated after 14 years of age in one study; in the second study patients treated early (before 11 years of age) were randomized to begin pubertal induction at either age 12 (n=26) or 15 (n=29) years (conjugated estrogens, 0.3 mg escalating to 0.625 mg daily); those whose treatment was initiated after 11 years of age began estrogen replacement after 1 year of treatment with HUMATROPE.

In the third US study, a randomized, blinded dose-response study, patients were treated from a mean age of 10.9 years for a mean duration of 5.5 years with a weekly HUMATROPE dosage of either 0.27 mg/kg or 0.36 mg/kg administered in divided doses 3 or 6 times weekly.

In summary, patients with Turner syndrome (total n=249 from the 4 studies above) treated to adult height achieved average height gains ranging from 5.0 to 8.3 cm. See Table 10 .

Two randomized, multicenter studies, one placebo-controlled and one dose-response, were conducted in pediatric patients with idiopathic short stature. The diagnosis of idiopathic short stature was made after excluding other known causes of short stature, as well as GH deficiency. The placebo-controlled study enrolled 71 pediatric patients (55 males, 16 females) 9 to 15 years old (mean age 12.4 ± 1.5 years), with short stature, 68 of whom received placebo (n=31) or HUMATROPE (n=37); NCT00191074. Patients were predominately prepubertal (Tanner I, 45%) or in early puberty (Tanner II, 47%) at baseline. In this double-blind study, patients received subcutaneous injections of either HUMATROPE 0.222 mg/kg/week, or placebo given in divided doses 3 times per week until height velocity decreased to ≤1.5 cm/year (“final height”). Final height measurements were available for 33 subjects (22 treated with HUMATROPE, 11 treated with placebo) after a mean treatment duration of 4.4 years (range 0.1-9.1 years).

Results are presented in Table 11 . The number of patients whose final height was above the 5th percentile of the general population height standard for age and sex was significantly greater in the HUMATROPE group than the placebo group (41% vs. 0%), as was the number of patients who gained at least 1 SDS unit in height across the duration of the study (50% vs. 0%).

The dose-response study included 239 pediatric patients (158 males, 81 females), 5 to 15 years old, (mean age 9.8 ± 2.3 years). Mean ± SD baseline characteristics included: height SDS -3.21 ± 0.70, predicted adult height SDS -2.63 ± 1.08, and height velocity SDS -1.09 ± 1.15. All but 3 patients were prepubertal. Patients were randomized to one of three HUMATROPE treatment groups: 0.24 mg/kg/week (n=78); 0.24 mg/kg/week for 1 year, followed by 0.37 mg/kg/week (n=78); and 0.37 mg/kg/week (n=83). Height velocity was assessed in each treatment group during the first 2 years of therapy. After completing the initial 2-year dose-response phase of the study, 50 patients were followed to final height.

After 2 years of treatment, patients who received the HUMATROPE dosage of 0.37 mg/kg/week (n=71) had a significantly greater increase in mean height velocity than patients who received 0.24 mg/kg/week (n=68), (4.04 vs. 3.27 cm/year respectively (ANOVA p=0.003). A total of 12 patients who received 0.37 mg/kg/week and 10 patients who received 0.24 mg/kg/week treatment had missing 2 year treatment data. The mean difference between final height and baseline predicted height was 7.2 cm for patients who received Humatrope 0.37 mg/kg/week and 5.4 cm for patients who received 0.24 mg/kg/week. The results are presented in Table 12 . While no patient had height above the 5th percentile in any dosage group at baseline, 82% (n=14) of the 17 patients who received 0.37 mg/kg/week and 47% (n=8) of the 17 patients who received 0.24 mg/kg/week achieved final heights above the 5th percentile of the general population height standards.

A randomized, controlled, two-year, three-arm, open-label study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of HUMATROPE for treatment of short stature in pediatric patients with SHOX deficiency who were not GH–deficient; NCT00190658. A total of 52 patients (24 male, 28 female) with SHOX deficiency, 3 to 12.3 years of age, were randomized to either a HUMATROPE-treated arm (27 patients; mean age 7.3 ± 2.1 years) or an untreated control arm (25 patients; mean age 7.5 ± 2.7 years). To determine the comparability of treatment effect between patients with SHOX deficiency and patients with Turner syndrome, the third study arm enrolled 26 patients with Turner syndrome, 4.5 to 11.8 years of age (mean age 7.5 ± 1.9 years) who received HUMATROPE treatment. All patients were prepubertal at study entry. Patients in the HUMATROPE-treated group(s) received daily subcutaneous injections of 0.05 mg/kg of HUMATROPE, equivalent to 0.35 mg/kg/week. Patients in the untreated group received no injections. One untreated patient discontinued the study during the first year. The results are presented in Table 13 ; the mean first-year height velocity of treated patients with SHOX deficiency was significantly greater than that of the untreated patients (mean between-group difference = 3.5 [95% CI: 2.8 – 4.2] cm/year, p<0.001).

The height increases would be considered similar if the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the mean difference between the groups (IAD – FHD) was greater than -0.5 height SDS. A 2-year, open-label, multicenter, European study enrolled 193 prepubertal, non-GH deficient children with mean chronological age 6.8 ± 2.4 years (range: 3 to 12.3); NCT00191529. Study entry criteria included birth weight <10th percentile and/or birth length SDS <-2 for gestational age, and height SDS for chronological age ≤-3. Exclusion criteria included syndromal conditions (e.g., Turner syndrome), chronic disease (e.g., diabetes mellitus), and active tumors. The primary objective was to compare the increase from baseline in height SDS after 1 year of treatment when HUMATROPE is administered according to an individually adjusted dose (IAD) regimen with a fixed high dose (FHD) regimen. Patients were randomized to either a FHD (0.067 mg/kg/day [0.47 mg/kg/week]; n=99) or an IAD treatment group (n=94). The initial HUMATROPE dosage in the IAD treatment group was 0.035 mg/kg/day (0.25 mg/kg/week). The dosage was increased to 0.067 mg/kg/day in those patients in the IAD group whose 1-year height gain predicted at Month 3 was <0.75 height SDS (n=40) or whose actual height gain measured at Year 1 was <0.75 height SDS (n=11).

The results are presented in Table 14 , The increase from baseline in height SDS in the IAD group was non-inferior to that in the FHD group at Year 1 (mean between-group difference = -0.3 SDS [95% CI: -0.4, -0.2 SDS]). The results were similar when children who entered puberty during the study were removed from the analysis. Data is shown for the efficacy analysis population that included all patients who received at least 1 dose of HUMATROPE and had at least 1 post randomization height measurement. Approximately 85% of the randomized patients completed 2 years of therapy.

An open-label, multicenter, single arm study was conducted in France, during which 35 prepubertal, non-GH deficient children were treated for 2 years with HUMATROPE 0.067 mg/kg/day (0.47 mg/kg/week). Mean chronological age at baseline was 9.3 ± 0.9 years (range: 6.7 to 10.8). Additional study entry criteria included birth length SDS <-2 or <3rd percentile for gestational age, and height SDS for chronological age <-2. Exclusion criteria included syndromal conditions (e.g., Turner syndrome), and chronic disease (e.g., diabetes mellitus). All 35 patients completed the study. Mean height SDS increased from a baseline value of -2.7 (SD 0.5) to -1.5 (SD 0.6) after 2 years of HUMATROPE treatment.

Two multicenter studies in patients with adult-onset GH deficiency (n=98) and two studies in patients with childhood-onset GH deficiency (n=67) were designed to assess the effects of replacement therapy with HUMATROPE. Adult-onset patients and childhood-onset patients differed by diagnosis (organic vs. idiopathic pituitary disease), body size (average vs. small [mean height (171 cm vs 161 cm) and weight (85 kg vs 64 kg)]), and age (mean 44 vs. 29 years).Each study included a 6-month randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled phase, during which approximately half of the patients received placebo injections, while the other half received HUMATROPE injections. The HUMATROPE dosages for all studies were identical: 1 month of treatment at 0.00625 mg/kg/day followed by 0.0125 mg/kg/day for the next 5 months. The 6-month, double-blind phase was followed by 12 months of open-label HUMATROPE treatment for all patients. The primary efficacy measures were body composition (lean body mass and fat mass) and lipid parameters [Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)]. Lean body mass was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), validated with potassium 40. Body fat was assessed by BIA and sum of skinfold thickness. Lipid subfractions were analyzed by standard assay methods in a central laboratory.

In a study with patients with adult-onset GH deficiency, HUMATROPE treatment (vs. placebo) resulted in an increase in mean lean body mass (2.59 vs. -0.22 kg, p<0.001) and a decrease in body fat (-3.27 vs. 0.56 kg, p<0.001). Similar changes were seen in childhood-onset GH deficient patients. These changes in lean body mass persisted throughout the 18-month period for both the adult-onset and childhood-onset groups; the changes in fat mass persisted in the childhood-onset group. Serum concentrations of HDL cholesterol which were low at baseline (mean, 31.0 mg/dL and 33.9 mg/dL in adult-onset (n=46) and childhood-onset (n=30) patients, respectively) had increased by the end of 18 months of HUMATROPE treatment (mean change of 13.7 and 11.1 mg/dL for the adult-onset (n=40) and childhood-onset (n=21) groups, respectively p<0.001; there was no adjustment for missing data). Total cholesterol and LDL did not show significant difference from baseline results by the end of 18 months of HUMATROPE treatment.

In an additional 2-year, open-label, randomized study 149 patients with childhood-onset GH deficiency who had completed pediatric somatropin therapy, had attained final height (height velocity <1 cm/yr) and were confirmed to be GH-deficient as young adults, were randomized to receive HUMATROPE 0.0125 mg/kg/day (n=59), HUMATROPE 0.025 mg/kg/day (n=58), or no treatment (control) (n=32). Total bone mineral content (BMC) increased by 5.2% ± 3.9% in the control group (n=28 for those with BMC measurements), 7.0% ± 7.2% in the HUMATROPE 0.025 mg/kg/day group (n=51) and 8.0% ± 8.9% in the HUMATROPE 0.0125 mg/kg/day group (n=51). For the treatment effect versus control group, p=0.012 (ANOVA); there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 HUMATROPE dose groups. A significant overall treatment effect (ANOVA, p=0.037) was seen for the percentage change in lumbar spine BMC, but not for femoral neck or hip.

HUMATROPE (somatropin) for injection is a white lyophilized powder available in the following cartridge sizes in Table 15 :

Cartridges

Refrigerate cartridges of HUMATROPE and Diluent for HUMATROPE at 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C). Avoid freezing Diluent for HUMATROPE. Store in the original carton to protect HUMATROPE from light.