Peptides / Growth hormone axis

Conjugate · 191 amino acids

Pegvisomant

ApprovedBanned in sport

Pegvisomant (Somavert) is a growth hormone receptor antagonist approved in the US and EU for acromegaly when surgery or radiation is not enough, and banned in sport. Studies in people tested it on IGF-1 levels, blood sugar and blood fats, and tracked side effects. PepBank shows 224 results on pegvisomant from 37 studies in people, and 75 from animal and lab studies. The strongest evidence is a randomized trial in people. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Also known as Somavert

First 40 of 191 amino acids1 changed amino acid

Evidence level: Large trials in people224 of 299 results come from studies in people, including randomized trials.

Results in people

224

75% of 299 results

Results in animals

20% of 299 results

Results in lab cells

5% of 299 results

From computer models

0% of 299 results

Overview

Pegvisomant at a glance

What it is	Conjugate, 191 amino acids
Approval	Approved in the US and EU (Somavert)
In sport	Banned in sport (WADA S2.2.3)
Studies	52 studies with results. All of them gave pegvisomant, with 299 results. 224 in people60 in animals15 in lab cells
Best study in people	Randomized controlled trial with 113 people (2009)
Clinical trials	37 registered: 1 active or planned, 9 with posted results
Community use	US-labelled acromegaly treatment after inadequate surgery or radiation response, or when these therapies are inappropriate.

The science

What is pegvisomant?

Pegvisomant is a PEG-conjugated growth hormone analog that antagonizes growth hormone receptors.

191

Amino acids in one chain

The history of pegvisomant

2000
The oldest paper on pegvisomant in PepBank is from 2000.
2003April
A registered trial of pegvisomant started (NCT00068042).

Pegvisomant structure and chemistry

The key facts about the molecule. Long codes are in the closed section below.

Sequence, 191 amino acidsFrom the first amino acid to the last

F1PTIP5LS+RLF10−DNAML15+RA−D+RL20NQLAF25−DTYQ−E30F−E−EAY35IP+K−EQ40+KYSFL45QNPQT50SLCFS55−ESIPT60PSN+R−E65−ETQQ+K70SNL−EL75L+RISL80LLIQS85WL−EPV90QFL+RS95VFANS100LVYGA105S−DSNV110Y−DLL+K115−DL−E−E+K120IQTLM125G+RL−E−D130GSP+RT135GQIF+K140QTYS+K145F−DTNS150HN−D−DA155LL+KNY160GLLYC165FNA−DM170S+RVST175FL+RTV180QC+RSV185−EGSCG190F

Darker means more water-repelling+ and − show charge in the body

Structure

Pegvisomant is a conjugate of 191 amino acids, with no ring, 1 changed amino acid.

CAS number

218620-50-9

Target

Growth hormone receptor (gene GHR): antagonistEvidence: Official prescribing information, mechanism of action

Development

Highest phase: past the trial stage (see status).

Identifiers

ChEMBL CHEMBL1201515, UNII N824AOU5XV, DrugBank DB00082

See charge, composition and 3D structure on the Scientific page

The evidence

What pegvisomant studies show

Results grouped by what the studies measured. Each card shows where its results come from.

Large trials in people224 of 299 results come from studies in people, including randomized trials.

Growth hormone and growth

131 results · 110 in people · 21 animal

In acromegaly, IGF-I normalization was numerically higher with pegvisomant than octreotide, without statistical significance. Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2009

Top results

In acromegaly, IGF-I normalization was numerically higher with pegvisomant than octreotide, without statistical significance. (Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2009)
In obese men during fasting, pegvisomant reduced serum IGF-I more than fasting alone. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2017)
In healthy young men, pegvisomant did not change muscle IGF-I gene expression compared with placebo. (Growth hormone & IGF research, 2011)

Blood sugar

26 results · 26 in people

In fasting healthy men, pegvisomant raised basal blood glucose compared with saline. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2009

Top results

In fasting healthy men, pegvisomant raised basal blood glucose compared with saline. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2009)
In diabetic acromegaly patients, fasting glucose changed more favorably with pegvisomant than octreotide. (Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2009)
In young adults with type 1 diabetes, pegvisomant reduced overnight insulin requirements compared with placebo. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2014)

Cholesterol and blood fats

19 results · 19 in people

In fasting healthy men, pegvisomant lowered circulating free fatty acids compared with saline. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2009

Top results

In fasting healthy men, pegvisomant lowered circulating free fatty acids compared with saline. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2009)
In young adults with type 1 diabetes, soleus muscle lipid decreased after pegvisomant compared with before treatment. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2014)
In young adults with type 1 diabetes, steady-state free fatty acid levels were similar with pegvisomant and placebo. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2014)

Daily life and fitness

10 results · 10 in people

In acromegalic patients on SSA therapy, quality of life improved after pegvisomant addition compared with baseline. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2008

Top results

In acromegalic patients on SSA therapy, quality of life improved after pegvisomant addition compared with baseline. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2008)
In healthy men, maximal oxygen uptake did not change significantly from baseline with either pegvisomant or placebo. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2009)
In acromegaly patients, quality of life remained stable during less frequent pegvisomant dosing. (European journal of endocrinology, 2009)

Immune system and inflammation

8 results · 5 in people · 3 lab

In patients with acromegaly, pegvisomant 20 mg increased CRP more than placebo. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2002

Top results

In patients with acromegaly, pegvisomant 20 mg increased CRP more than placebo. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2002)
In lab tests with mouse thymus tissue, pegvisomant inhibited the rise in double negative T cells compared with GH alone. (Neuroimmunomodulation, 2012)
In healthy volunteers, orosomucoid increased during pegvisomant treatment compared with before treatment. (European journal of endocrinology, 2012)

Bones and joints

11 results · 4 in people · 7 animal

In acromegaly patients, pegvisomant reduced the bone formation marker osteocalcin more than placebo. Clinical endocrinology, 2002

Top results

In acromegaly patients, pegvisomant reduced the bone formation marker osteocalcin more than placebo. (Clinical endocrinology, 2002)
In MAS patients with excess GH, pegvisomant did not significantly change bone metabolism markers from baseline. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2006)
In acromegaly patients, pegvisomant reduced the bone formation marker PICP more than placebo. (Clinical endocrinology, 2002)

Pegvisomant has 419 linked papers. PepBank read up to 120 of the most-cited studies that gave it to people, up to 20 other studies, and the main trials.

All 52 pegvisomant studies by area Open the Scientific page

Key pegvisomant studies

Studies in people come first, then studies in animals and in the lab.

People
Comparison of pegvisomant and long-acting octreotide in patients with acromegaly naïve to radiation and medical therapy
Ghigo et al. 2009 · Journal of endocrinological investigation · 113 people · cited by 50
7 results
People
Treatment of acromegaly with the growth hormone-receptor antagonist pegvisomant
Trainer et al. 2000 · The New England journal of medicine · 112 people · cited by 503
11 results
People
Cardiovascular risk factors in acromegaly before and after normalization of serum IGF-I levels with the GH antagonist pegvisomant
Sesmilo et al. 2002 · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 48 people · cited by 83
7 results
People
Effects of a growth hormone receptor antagonist on bone markers in acromegaly
Fairfield et al. 2002 · Clinical endocrinology · 27 people · cited by 28
3 results
People
GH receptor blocker administration and muscle-tendon collagen synthesis in humans
Nielsen et al. 2011 · Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society · 20 people · cited by 6
7 results

All 52 Pegvisomant studies

Pegvisomant clinical trials

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 37 trials of pegvisomant. 1 is active or planned, and 9 have posted results. PepBank does not show trial results.

Solid bars are dates that happened. Hatched bars are planned dates. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Lanreotide Autogel and Pegvisomant Combination Therapy in Acromegalic Patients

Phase 3completed125 people

Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Sandostatin LAR at High Dose or in Combination Either With GH-receptor Antagonist or Dopamine-agonist in Acromegalic Patients

Phase 4completed70 people

Effect of DPP4 Inhibition on Growth Hormone Secretion

Phase 4completed44 people

All 16 Pegvisomant trials

Status and safety

Is pegvisomant approved?

FDA

United States

Approved

An approved medicine contains it.

EMA

European Union

Approved

An approved medicine contains it.

WADA

Sport

Banned

On the 2026 Prohibited List, section S2.2.3.

Yes. Approved in the US and EU (Somavert). The FDA label for Somavert says: “Acromegaly in patients with an inadequate response to surgery or radiation therapy, or for whom these therapies are not appropriate” Banned in sport (WADA S2.2.3).

Laws and labels change, so check the regulator for the current status.

Pegvisomant side effects and safety

PepBank has 12 safety results from studies of pegvisomant. 12 of them come from studies in people.

Safety results from studies (12)

In acromegaly, adverse effect incidence was similar with pegvisomant and placebo. (The New England journal of medicine, 2000)
In acromegaly, treatment-related adverse events were mild-to-moderate with pegvisomant and octreotide. (Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2009)
In healthy adults, neither pegvisomant injection regimen produced laboratory abnormalities of clinical concern. (Growth hormone & IGF research, 2013)
In acromegaly patients receiving less frequent pegvisomant, headaches led to two withdrawals. (European journal of endocrinology, 2009)
In healthy subjects receiving pegvisomant, adverse events were generally grade 1 or 2. (Clinical cancer research, 2007)
In healthy adults, neither pegvisomant injection regimen produced vital sign findings of clinical concern. (Growth hormone & IGF research, 2013)
In healthy adults, neither pegvisomant injection regimen produced ECG findings of clinical concern. (Growth hormone & IGF research, 2013)
In healthy adults, neither pegvisomant injection regimen produced injection site reactions of clinical concern. (Growth hormone & IGF research, 2013)
In healthy subjects receiving pegvisomant, injection site reactions were among the most frequent treatment-related adverse events. (Clinical cancer research, 2007)
In healthy subjects receiving pegvisomant, headache was among the most frequent treatment-related adverse events. (Clinical cancer research, 2007)
In healthy subjects receiving pegvisomant, fatigue was among the most frequent treatment-related adverse events. (Clinical cancer research, 2007)
In acromegaly patients, safety measures remained stable during less frequent pegvisomant dosing. (European journal of endocrinology, 2009)

See every safety result on the Scientific page

Doses studied (40 shown)

The doses that these studies used. They are not recommendations.

Dose as reported	Class	Species	Route	Duration	Design	Source
10, 15, or 20 mg daily	Human	human	subcutaneous	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 112	Trainer 2000
10, 15 or 20 mg daily	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 48	Sesmilo 2002
10, 15 or 20 mg	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 27	Fairfield 2002
20 mg daily	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 26	Sesmilo 2002
5 mg/day	Human	human	Not reported	2 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 20	Nielsen 2011
1 mg/kg, single injection	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 16	Veldhuis 2002
1 mg/kg	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 12	Veldhuis 2001
10 mg	Human	human	Not reported	4 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 10	Thankamony 2014
30 mg	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Randomized trial in people · n = 8	Gormsen 2007
10 mg daily	Human	human	subcutaneous	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people	Trainer 2000
15 mg daily	Human	human	subcutaneous	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people	Trainer 2000
20 mg daily	Human	human	subcutaneous	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people	Trainer 2000
20 mg/d	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups · n = 5	Akintoye 2006
20 mg daily	Human	human	Not reported	four weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 4	Lee 2017
10 mg once daily initially, adjusted in 5-mg increments every 8 weeks	Human	human	Not reported	40 weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 27	Trainer 2009
100 mg loading dose, then 20 mg daily	Human	human	subcutaneous	12 weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 25	2001
1 mg/kg	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups · n = 21	Radetti 2008
40 mg weekly	Human	human	Not reported	16 wk	Trial in people without random groups · n = 20	Neggers 2008
10 mg/d	Human	human	Not reported	16 d	Trial in people without random groups · n = 20	Goto 2009
40 mg once daily	Human	human	subcutaneous	14 days	Trial in people without random groups · n = 18	Yin 2007
60 mg once daily	Human	human	subcutaneous	14 days	Trial in people without random groups · n = 18	Yin 2007
80 mg once daily	Human	human	subcutaneous	14 days	Trial in people without random groups · n = 18	Yin 2007
30 mg	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups · n = 16	da 2021
One injection of 30 mg/mL	Human	human	subcutaneous	single dose	Trial in people without random groups · n = 14	Jen 2013
One injection of 30 mg/mL and two injections of 15 mg/mL	Human	human	subcutaneous	single dose	Trial in people without random groups · n = 14	Jen 2013
10 mg/day first week, 15 mg/day last two weeks	Human	human	Not reported	3 weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 12	Andreassen 2012
10 mg/d	Human	human	Not reported	6 weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 11	Jørgensen 2005
15 mg/d	Human	human	Not reported	6 weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 11	Jørgensen 2005
15 mg	Human	human	Not reported	3 months	Trial in people without random groups · n = 11	Jørgensen 2005
80 mg as a single injection	Human	human	subcutaneous	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups · n = 10	Muller 2001
10 mg/day first week, 15 mg/day last 2 weeks	Human	human	Not reported	3 weeks	Trial in people without random groups · n = 8	Andreassen 2013
20 mg/d	Human	human	Not reported	7 d	Trial in people without random groups · n = 6	Parkinson 2002
15 or 20 mg daily	Human	human	subcutaneous	12 weeks	Trial in people without random groups	Trainer 2000
At least 10 mg daily, adjusted to normalize IGF-I	Human	human	Not reported	Median 15.6 months	Trial in people without random groups	Sesmilo 2002
10 mg daily	Human	human	Not reported	12 wk	Trial in people without random groups	Higham 2012
10 mg	Human	human	Not reported	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups	Higham 2012
40, 60, or 80 mg once daily	Human	human	subcutaneous	14 days	Trial in people without random groups	Yin 2007
20 mg daily	Human	human	Not reported	14 days	Trial in people without random groups	Berg 2009
20 mg/kg/day	Animal	mouse	subcutaneous	Not reported	Study in live animals	Evans 2016
100 mg/kg/day	Animal	mouse	subcutaneous	Not reported	Study in live animals	Evans 2016

From the community

How people use it

What people report online. It comes from forums and guides, not from studies.

Community-reported. Not tested in trials.

The official US label reports prescription use. The regimen below is label information.

Reported routines and cautions

What people use it for

US-labelled acromegaly treatment after inadequate surgery or radiation response, or when these therapies are inappropriate.S1

Reported regimens

Regimens that community sources report for Pegvisomant. Community-reported, not tested in trials.
Context	Route	Amount	How often	How long	Agreement	Sources
US label: initial maintenance dose after loading for acromegaly with inadequate surgery or radiation response, or when these therapies are inappropriate. Pediatric safety and effectiveness are not established. Use reconstituted Somavert lyophilized powder for subcutaneous injection.Official label dosing of an approved product	subcutaneous injection	10 mg per dose	once daily	Not stated	Single official US label source.	S1

Cautions

The label requires liver monitoring and warns about hypoglycemia in patients receiving diabetes treatment.S1

Status notes

Somavert is authorised in the EU for adults with acromegaly after inadequate surgery and/or radiation response and unsuccessful or intolerable somatostatin-analogue treatment. The selected regimen uses the US label.S2

Community sources

S1Somavert US prescribing information (opens in a new tab)dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
S2EMA regulatory information (opens in a new tab)ema.europa.eu

Gaps

This record covers one selected US label regimen. It does not establish a separate non-vendor community regimen. The full label contains further administration, monitoring, and safety conditions.

Questions and more

Ask a question about pegvisomant

The answer links to every study it uses.

What does the evidence say about pegvisomant?Is pegvisomant tested in people?Compare with IGF-1 (mecasermin)Compare with HGH (somatotropin)

Sources

Database: PepBank data for pegvisomant (data version 308560)
Regulator: FDA status record
Regulator: EMA status record
Regulator: WADA status record
Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov
Community: community sources (forums and guides), as summarized in the PepBank community file

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Ask your AI about pegvisomant

Pegvisomant

ApprovedBanned in sport

Also known as Somavert

What it is

Conjugate, 191 amino acids

Approval

Approved in the US and EU (Somavert)

In sport

Banned in sport (WADA S2.2.3)

Studies

52 studies with results. All of them gave pegvisomant, with 299 results.
224 in people60 in animals15 in lab cells

Best study in people

Randomized controlled trial with 113 people (2009)

Clinical trials

37 registered: 1 active or planned, 9 with posted results

Community use

US-labelled acromegaly treatment after inadequate surgery or radiation response, or when these therapies are inappropriate.

Dose as reported

Class

Species

Route

Duration

Design

Source

10, 15, or 20 mg daily

Human

human

subcutaneous

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 112

Trainer 2000

10, 15 or 20 mg daily

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 48

Sesmilo 2002

10, 15 or 20 mg

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 27

Fairfield 2002

20 mg daily

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 26

Sesmilo 2002

5 mg/day

Human

human

Not reported

2 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 20

Nielsen 2011

1 mg/kg, single injection

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 16

Veldhuis 2002

1 mg/kg

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 12

Veldhuis 2001

10 mg

Human

human

Not reported

4 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 10

Thankamony 2014

30 mg

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Randomized trial in people · n = 8

Gormsen 2007

10 mg daily

Human

human

subcutaneous

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people

Trainer 2000

15 mg daily

Human

human

subcutaneous

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people

Trainer 2000

20 mg daily

Human

human

subcutaneous

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people

Trainer 2000

20 mg/d

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups · n = 5

Akintoye 2006

20 mg daily

Human

human

Not reported

four weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 4

Lee 2017

10 mg once daily initially, adjusted in 5-mg increments every 8 weeks

Human

human

Not reported

40 weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 27

Trainer 2009

100 mg loading dose, then 20 mg daily

Human

human

subcutaneous

12 weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 25

2001

1 mg/kg

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups · n = 21

Radetti 2008

40 mg weekly

Human

human

Not reported

16 wk

Trial in people without random groups · n = 20

Neggers 2008

10 mg/d

Human

human

Not reported

16 d

Trial in people without random groups · n = 20

Goto 2009

40 mg once daily

Human

human

subcutaneous

14 days

Trial in people without random groups · n = 18

Yin 2007

60 mg once daily

Human

human

subcutaneous

14 days

Trial in people without random groups · n = 18

Yin 2007

80 mg once daily

Human

human

subcutaneous

14 days

Trial in people without random groups · n = 18

Yin 2007

30 mg

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups · n = 16

da 2021

One injection of 30 mg/mL

Human

human

subcutaneous

single dose

Trial in people without random groups · n = 14

Jen 2013

One injection of 30 mg/mL and two injections of 15 mg/mL

Human

human

subcutaneous

single dose

Trial in people without random groups · n = 14

Jen 2013

10 mg/day first week, 15 mg/day last two weeks

Human

human

Not reported

3 weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 12

Andreassen 2012

10 mg/d

Human

human

Not reported

6 weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 11

Jørgensen 2005

15 mg/d

Human

human

Not reported

6 weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 11

Jørgensen 2005

15 mg

Human

human

Not reported

3 months

Trial in people without random groups · n = 11

Jørgensen 2005

80 mg as a single injection

Human

human

subcutaneous

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups · n = 10

Muller 2001

10 mg/day first week, 15 mg/day last 2 weeks

Human

human

Not reported

3 weeks

Trial in people without random groups · n = 8

Andreassen 2013

20 mg/d

Human

human

Not reported

7 d

Trial in people without random groups · n = 6

Parkinson 2002

15 or 20 mg daily

Human

human

subcutaneous

12 weeks

Trial in people without random groups

Trainer 2000

At least 10 mg daily, adjusted to normalize IGF-I

Human

human

Not reported

Median 15.6 months

Trial in people without random groups

Sesmilo 2002

10 mg daily

Human

human

Not reported

12 wk

Trial in people without random groups

Higham 2012

10 mg

Human

human

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups

Higham 2012

40, 60, or 80 mg once daily

Human

human

subcutaneous

14 days

Trial in people without random groups

Yin 2007

20 mg daily

Human

human

Not reported

14 days

Trial in people without random groups

Berg 2009

20 mg/kg/day

Animal

mouse

subcutaneous

Not reported

Study in live animals

Evans 2016

100 mg/kg/day

Animal

mouse

subcutaneous

Not reported

Study in live animals

Evans 2016

Context

Route

Amount

How often

How long

Agreement

Sources

US label: initial maintenance dose after loading for acromegaly with inadequate surgery or radiation response, or when these therapies are inappropriate. Pediatric safety and effectiveness are not established. Use reconstituted Somavert lyophilized powder for subcutaneous injection.Official label dosing of an approved product

subcutaneous injection

10 mg per dose

once daily

Not stated

Single official US label source.

Pegvisomant

Pegvisomant at a glance

What is pegvisomant?

The history of pegvisomant

Pegvisomant structure and chemistry

What pegvisomant studies show

Growth hormone and growth

Blood sugar

Cholesterol and blood fats

Daily life and fitness

Immune system and inflammation

Bones and joints

Key pegvisomant studies

Pegvisomant clinical trials

Is pegvisomant approved?

Pegvisomant side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Cautions

Status notes

Community sources

Ask a question about pegvisomant

Related peptides

Sources

Pegvisomant

Pegvisomant at a glance

What is pegvisomant?

The history of pegvisomant

Pegvisomant structure and chemistry

What pegvisomant studies show

Growth hormone and growth

Blood sugar

Cholesterol and blood fats

Daily life and fitness

Immune system and inflammation

Bones and joints

Key pegvisomant studies

Pegvisomant clinical trials

Is pegvisomant approved?

Pegvisomant side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Cautions

Status notes

Community sources

Ask a question about pegvisomant

Related peptides

Sources