ATC Group: H01A Anterior pituitary lobe hormones and analogues

Corticotropin is a polypeptide hormone produced and secreted by the pituitary gland. Corticotropin acts through the stimulation of cell surface ACTH receptors, which are primarily located on the adrenocortical cells. Corticotropin stimulates the cortex of the adrenal gland and boosts the synthesis of corticosteroids, mainly glucocorticoids but also sex steroids (androgens).

Lonapegsomatropin is a long-acting ‘prodrug’ of somatropin. Lonapegsomatropin consists of the parent drug, somatropin, that is transiently conjugated to a methoxypolyethylene glycol carrier (4 × 10 kDa mPEG) via a proprietary TransCon Linker. The carrier has a shielding effect that minimizes renal excretion and receptor-mediated clearance of lonapegsomatropin.

Mecasermin is a human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-1) produced by recombinant DNA technology. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is the principal hormonal mediator of statural growth. Mecasermin is indicated for the long-term treatment of growth failure in patients with confirmed severe primary insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency (Primary IGFD).

Pegvisomant is an analogue of human growth hormone that has been genetically modified to be a growth hormone receptor antagonist for the treatment of adult patients with acromegaly. Pegvisomant is highly selective for the GH receptor, and does not cross-react with other cytokine receptors, including prolactin.

The biologically active fragment of human growth hormone-releasing factor. It is used to diagnose or treat patients with GROWTH HORMONE deficiency.

Somapacitan is a long-acting recombinant human growth hormone derivative. The mechanism of action of somapacitan is either directly via the GH-receptor and/or indirectly via IGF-I produced in tissues throughout the body, but predominantly by the liver. When growth hormone deficiency is treated with somapacitan a normalisation of body composition (i.e., decreased body fat mass, increased lean body mass) and of metabolic action is achieved.

Somatrogon is a glycoprotein comprised of the amino acid sequence of hGH with one copy of the of C-terminal peptide (CTP) from the beta chain of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) at the N-terminus and two copies of CTP (in tandem) at the C-terminus. The glycosylation and CTP domains account for the half-life of somatrogon, which allows for weekly dosing. Somatrogon binds to the GH receptor and initiates a signal transduction cascade culminating in changes in growth and metabolism.

Somatropin is a potent metabolic hormone of importance for the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins. In children with inadequate endogenous growth hormone, somatropin stimulates linear growth and increases growth rate. In adults, as well as in children, somatropin maintains a normal body composition by increasing nitrogen retention and stimulation of skeletal muscle growth, and by mobilization of body fat.

Tesamorelin is indicated for the treatment of excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in treatment-experienced adult HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy. In vitro, tesamorelin binds and stimulates human GRF receptors with similar potency as the endogenous GRF, and subsequently increases IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels.

Tetracosactide acetate consists of the first 24 amino acids occurring in the natural corticotropic hormone (ACTH) sequence and displays the same physiological properties as ACTH. In the adrenal cortex, it stimulates the biosynthesis of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and, to a lesser extent, androgens, which explains its therapeutic effect in conditions responsive to glucocorticoid treatment.

Thyrotropin alfa (recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein produced by recombinant DNA technology. Binding of thyrotropin alfa to TSH receptors on thyroid epithelial cells stimulates iodine uptake and organification, and synthesis and release of thyroglobulin, triiodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine (T₄).