Growth hormone receptor antagonism with pegvisomant in insulin resistant non-diabetic men: A phase II pilot study.

Lee AP, Mulligan K, Schambelan M, Murphy EJ, Weiss EJ

F1000Research3 May 2017Cited by 5 (Europe PMC)

PMID28713554PMCIDPMC5499778DOI10.12688/f1000research.11359.1PepBankPUB-28713554

Summary

Background: Growth hormone (GH) is known to affect insulin and glucose metabolism. Blocking its effects in acromegalic patients improves diabetes and glucose metabolism. We aimed to determine the effect of pegvisomant, a GH receptor antagonist, on insulin resistance, endogenous glucose production (EGP) and lipolysis in insulin resistant non-diabetic men. Methods: Four men between the ages of 18-62 with a BMI of 18-35kg/m ², with insulin resistance as defined by a HOMA-IR > 2.77, were treated for four weeks with pegvisomant 20 mg daily. Inpatient metabolic assessments were performed before and after treatment. The main outcome measurements were: change after pegvisomant therapy in insulin sensitivity as measured by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp; and EGP and lipolysis assessed by stable isotope tracer techniques. Results: Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations decreased from 134.0 ± 41.5 (mean ± SD) to 72.0 ± 11.7 ng/mL (p = 0.04) after 4 weeks of therapy. Whole body insulin sensitivity index (M/I 3.2 ± 1.3 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4; P = 0.82), as well as suppression of EGP (89.7 ± 26.9 vs. 83.5 ± 21.6%; p = 0.10) and Ra glycerol (59.4 ± 22.1% vs. 61.2 ± 14.4%; p = 0.67) during the clamp were not changed significantly with pegvisomant treatment. Conclusions: Blockade of the GH receptor with pegvisomant for four weeks had no significant effect on insulin/glucose metabolism in a small phase II pilot study of non-diabetic insulin resistant participants without acromegaly.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

01HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In insulin-resistant men, pegvisomant did not significantly change insulin sensitivity (3.2 ± 1.3 versus 3.4 ± 2.4, P = 0.82).
In plain wordsIn insulin-resistant men, pegvisomant did not significantly change insulin sensitivity compared with baseline.
Peptide
Pegvisomant
Outcome
No significant changeWhole body insulin sensitivity index
Study
n = 4
Comparator
Before treatment
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
20 mg daily · four weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Whole body insulin sensitivity index (M/I) before treatment
3.2 M/I
baseline, mean ± SD 3.2 ± 1.3
Whole body insulin sensitivity index (M/I) after treatment
3.4 M/I
after 4 weeks pegvisomant, mean ± SD 3.4 ± 2.4
Source sentences
Summary
Whole body insulin sensitivity index (M/I 3.2 ± 1.3 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4; P = 0.82), as well as suppression of EGP (89.7 ± 26.9 vs. 83.5 ± 21.6%; p = 0.10) and Ra glycerol (59.4 ± 22.1% vs. 61.2 ± 14.4%; p = 0.67) during the clamp were not changed significantly with pegvisomant treatment.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Four men between the ages of 18-62 with a BMI of 18-35kg/m ², with insulin resistance as defined by a HOMA-IR > 2.77, were treated for four weeks with pegvisomant 20 mg daily.
Summary · context
Inpatient metabolic assessments were performed before and after treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2871355402
02HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In insulin-resistant men, pegvisomant did not significantly change clamp EGP suppression (89.7 ± 26.9 versus 83.5 ± 21.6%, p = 0.10).
In plain wordsIn insulin-resistant men, pegvisomant did not significantly change glucose production suppression compared with baseline.
Peptide
Pegvisomant
Outcome
No significant changeSuppression of endogenous glucose production
Study
n = 4
Comparator
Before treatment
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
20 mg daily · four weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
EGP suppression during clamp, before treatment
89.7%
baseline, mean ± SD 89.7 ± 26.9
EGP suppression during clamp, after treatment
83.5%
after 4 weeks pegvisomant, mean ± SD 83.5 ± 21.6
Source sentences
Summary
as well as suppression of EGP (89.7 ± 26.9 vs. 83.5 ± 21.6%; p = 0.10) and Ra glycerol (59.4 ± 22.1% vs. 61.2 ± 14.4%; p = 0.67) during the clamp were not changed significantly with pegvisomant treatment.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Four men between the ages of 18-62 with a BMI of 18-35kg/m ², with insulin resistance as defined by a HOMA-IR > 2.77, were treated for four weeks with pegvisomant 20 mg daily.
Summary · context
Inpatient metabolic assessments were performed before and after treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2871355403
03HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In insulin-resistant men, pegvisomant did not significantly change clamp glycerol suppression (59.4 ± 22.1% versus 61.2 ± 14.4%, p = 0.67).
In plain wordsIn insulin-resistant men, pegvisomant did not significantly change glycerol suppression compared with baseline.
Peptide
Pegvisomant
Outcome
No significant changeSuppression of glycerol appearance
Study
n = 4
Comparator
Before treatment
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Lipids · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
20 mg daily · four weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Ra glycerol suppression during clamp, before treatment
59.4%
baseline, mean ± SD 59.4 ± 22.1
Ra glycerol suppression during clamp, after treatment
61.2%
after 4 weeks pegvisomant, mean ± SD 61.2 ± 14.4
Source sentences
Summary
as well as suppression of EGP (89.7 ± 26.9 vs. 83.5 ± 21.6%; p = 0.10) and Ra glycerol (59.4 ± 22.1% vs. 61.2 ± 14.4%; p = 0.67) during the clamp were not changed significantly with pegvisomant treatment.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Four men between the ages of 18-62 with a BMI of 18-35kg/m ², with insulin resistance as defined by a HOMA-IR > 2.77, were treated for four weeks with pegvisomant 20 mg daily.
Summary · context
Inpatient metabolic assessments were performed before and after treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2871355404
04HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In insulin-resistant non-diabetic men, pegvisomant reduced IGF-1 from 134.0 ± 41.5 to 72.0 ± 11.7 ng/mL (p = 0.04).
In plain wordsIn insulin-resistant men without diabetes, pegvisomant reduced IGF-1 compared with baseline.
Peptide
Pegvisomant
Outcome
DecreaseIGF-1 concentration
Study
n = 4
Comparator
Before treatment
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
20 mg daily · four weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
IGF-1 before treatment
134 ng/mL
baseline, mean ± SD 134.0 ± 41.5
IGF-1 after 4 weeks
72 ng/mL
after pegvisomant 20 mg daily, mean ± SD 72.0 ± 11.7
Source sentences
Summary
Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations decreased from 134.0 ± 41.5 (mean ± SD) to 72.0 ± 11.7 ng/mL (p = 0.04) after 4 weeks of therapy.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Four men between the ages of 18-62 with a BMI of 18-35kg/m ², with insulin resistance as defined by a HOMA-IR > 2.77, were treated for four weeks with pegvisomant 20 mg daily.
Summary · context
Inpatient metabolic assessments were performed before and after treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2871355401

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

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Version 2Current
28 Oct 2026, 02:03 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
27 Oct 2026, 16:34 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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