Skip to content

Study · Non-randomized trial · n = 19 · 2026

5 results

Injection-site pain after switching from somatrogon to somapacitan in children reporting pain or discomfort during once-weekly growth hormone therapy: a prospective single-arm switch study.

Iwayama H, Kawahara K, Kitagawa S, Miyamoto R, Takagi J, Ito Y, Okumura A

Frontiers in endocrinology31 Aug 2026

PMID42741127 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13572229 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3389/fendo.2026.1849487 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-42741127
Download PDFPubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 5 results

Summary

BackgroundOnce-weekly growth hormone (GH) formulations, such as somatrogon and somapacitan, may reduce the burden of treatment, but injection-site pain can affect treatment preference. Clinical data on patient-reported injection-site pain and preference after switching between once-weekly GH formulations remain limited, particularly in children who experience injection-site pain.ObjectiveTo describe changes in perceived injection-site pain and treatment preference after switching from somatrogon to somapacitan in children who reported injection-site pain or discomfort during somatrogon therapy.MethodsThis prospective single-arm switch study included 19 children with GH deficiency who had received somatrogon for at least 4 weeks, reported injection-site pain or discomfort during routine clinical care, and agreed to switch to somapacitan. Pain scores for prior somatrogon use and current somapacitan use were assessed once after at least 4 weeks of somapacitan treatment, using the Numerical Rating Scale and/or Faces Rating Scale according to age. A 5-point Likert questionnaire evaluated device usability, pain at needle insertion, pain during injection, pain after injection, and treatment preference. Paired t-tests and binomial tests were used for the main analyses, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were performed as sensitivity analyses for paired pain-score comparisons.ResultsThe mean age was 9.6 ± 2.6 years. Diagnoses included isolated GH deficiency (n = 17) and panhypopituitarism after craniopharyngioma surgery (n = 2). Pain scores decreased after switching (Numerical Rating Scale: 6.5 ± 2.6 vs 1.6 ± 1.7; Faces Rating Scale: 3.8 ± 1.1 vs 1.1 ± 1.1; both p < 0.001). All participants preferred continued use of somapacitan (p < 0.001), and questionnaire responses favored somapacitan for pain at needle insertion and pain during injection.ConclusionIn children who reported injection-site pain or discomfort during somatrogon therapy and agreed to switch, pain scores and treatment preference improved after switching to somapacitan. These findings support considering a switch to another once-weekly GH formulation when injection-site pain affects treatment preference.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

  1. 01HumanNon-randomized trialOther

    All children with GH deficiency in the switch study preferred continued somapacitan over prior somatrogon treatment (p < 0.001).

    In plain wordsAll children in the switch study preferred continued somapacitan over prior somatrogon treatment.

    Peptide
    Somapacitan
    Outcome
    Not applicableContinued treatment preference
    Study

    n = 19

    Comparator
    Prior somatrogon treatment
    Outcome group
    Patterns of use · Whole body
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · at least 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    P
    < 0.001
    preference for continued somapacitan

    Source sentences

    Summary
    All participants preferred continued use of somapacitan (p < 0.001), and questionnaire responses favored somapacitan for pain at needle insertion and pain during injection.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This prospective single-arm switch study included 19 children with GH deficiency who had received somatrogon for at least 4 weeks, reported injection-site pain or discomfort during routine clinical care, and agreed to switch to somapacitan.
    Summary · context
    Pain scores for prior somatrogon use and current somapacitan use were assessed once after at least 4 weeks of somapacitan treatment, using the Numerical Rating Scale and/or Faces Rating Scale according to age.
  2. 02HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome

    In children with GH deficiency and prior injection pain, questionnaire responses favored somapacitan over somatrogon for pain at needle insertion.

    In plain wordsIn children with prior injection pain, questionnaire responses favored somapacitan over somatrogon for pain at needle insertion.

    Peptide
    Somapacitan
    Outcome
    DecreasePain at needle insertion
    Study

    n = 19

    Comparator
    Prior somatrogon treatment
    Outcome group
    Pain · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · at least 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    All participants preferred continued use of somapacitan (p < 0.001), and questionnaire responses favored somapacitan for pain at needle insertion and pain during injection.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This prospective single-arm switch study included 19 children with GH deficiency who had received somatrogon for at least 4 weeks, reported injection-site pain or discomfort during routine clinical care, and agreed to switch to somapacitan.
    Summary · context
    Pain scores for prior somatrogon use and current somapacitan use were assessed once after at least 4 weeks of somapacitan treatment, using the Numerical Rating Scale and/or Faces Rating Scale according to age.
  3. 03HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome

    In children with GH deficiency and prior injection pain, questionnaire responses favored somapacitan over somatrogon for pain during injection.

    In plain wordsIn children with prior injection pain, questionnaire responses favored somapacitan over somatrogon for pain during injection.

    Peptide
    Somapacitan
    Outcome
    DecreasePain during injection
    Study

    n = 19

    Comparator
    Prior somatrogon treatment
    Outcome group
    Pain · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · at least 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    All participants preferred continued use of somapacitan (p < 0.001), and questionnaire responses favored somapacitan for pain at needle insertion and pain during injection.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This prospective single-arm switch study included 19 children with GH deficiency who had received somatrogon for at least 4 weeks, reported injection-site pain or discomfort during routine clinical care, and agreed to switch to somapacitan.
    Summary · context
    Pain scores for prior somatrogon use and current somapacitan use were assessed once after at least 4 weeks of somapacitan treatment, using the Numerical Rating Scale and/or Faces Rating Scale according to age.
  4. 04HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome

    In children with GH deficiency and prior injection pain, Numerical Rating Scale pain decreased from 6.5 to 1.6 after switching to somapacitan.

    In plain wordsIn children with prior injection pain, pain scores decreased after switching from somatrogon to somapacitan.

    Peptide
    Somapacitan
    Outcome
    DecreaseInjection-site pain, Numerical Rating Scale
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Prior somatrogon treatment
    Outcome group
    Pain · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · at least 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Pain score
    6.5
    prior somatrogon
    SD
    2.6
    prior somatrogon
    Pain score
    1.6
    somapacitan
    SD
    1.7
    somapacitan
    P
    < 0.001
    paired comparison

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Pain scores decreased after switching (Numerical Rating Scale: 6.5 ± 2.6 vs 1.6 ± 1.7; Faces Rating Scale: 3.8 ± 1.1 vs 1.1 ± 1.1; both p < 0.001).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This prospective single-arm switch study included 19 children with GH deficiency who had received somatrogon for at least 4 weeks, reported injection-site pain or discomfort during routine clinical care, and agreed to switch to somapacitan.
    Summary · context
    Pain scores for prior somatrogon use and current somapacitan use were assessed once after at least 4 weeks of somapacitan treatment, using the Numerical Rating Scale and/or Faces Rating Scale according to age.
  5. 05HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome

    In children with GH deficiency and prior injection pain, Faces Rating Scale pain decreased from 3.8 to 1.1 after switching to somapacitan.

    In plain wordsIn children with prior injection pain, face-based pain scores decreased after switching from somatrogon to somapacitan.

    Peptide
    Somapacitan
    Outcome
    DecreaseInjection-site pain, Faces Rating Scale
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Prior somatrogon treatment
    Outcome group
    Pain · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · at least 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Pain score
    3.8
    prior somatrogon
    SD
    1.1
    prior somatrogon
    Pain score
    1.1
    somapacitan
    SD
    1.1
    somapacitan
    P
    < 0.001
    paired comparison

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Pain scores decreased after switching (Numerical Rating Scale: 6.5 ± 2.6 vs 1.6 ± 1.7; Faces Rating Scale: 3.8 ± 1.1 vs 1.1 ± 1.1; both p < 0.001).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    This prospective single-arm switch study included 19 children with GH deficiency who had received somatrogon for at least 4 weeks, reported injection-site pain or discomfort during routine clinical care, and agreed to switch to somapacitan.
    Summary · context
    Pain scores for prior somatrogon use and current somapacitan use were assessed once after at least 4 weeks of somapacitan treatment, using the Numerical Rating Scale and/or Faces Rating Scale according to age.

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

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 3Current

    28 Oct 2026, 02:03 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 2

    27 Oct 2026, 16:36 UTC

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    27 Oct 2026, 16:36 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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