New acromegaly drug first to block growth hormone receptors

Physicians and their patients with acromegaly will soon have access to the first drug specifically designed to block the effects of human growth hormone. The FDA recently approved pegvisomant (Somavert, Pharmacia) for the treatment of acromegaly in patients who have had an inadequate response to surgery and/or radiation therapy and/or medical therapies, or for whom those treatments are inappropriate. Pegvisomant is the first of a new class of drugs called growth hormone receptor antagonists.