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INCRELEX®  (mecasermin) – References

  1. INCRELEX® Full Prescribing Information. Cambridge, MA: Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc; December 2019.
  2. Backeljauw PF, Chernausek SD. Treatment of severe IGF-1 deficiency with recombinant human IGF-1 (mecasermin). Curr Med Lit Growth 2009;2(3):69–
  3. Cohen J, Blethen S, Kuntze J, et al. Managing the child with severe primary insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency (IGFD): IGFD diagnosis and management. Drugs R D. 2014;14(1):25–9.
  4. Kemp SF. Insulin-like growth factor-I deficiency in children with growth hormone insensitivity: current and future treatment options. BioDrugs. 2009;23(3):155–63.
  5. Le Roith D, Scavo L, Butler A. What is the role of circulating IGF-I? Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2001;12(2):48–52.
  6. Fintini D, Brufani C, Cappa M. Profile of mecasermin for the long-term treatment of growth failure in children and adolescents with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2009;5(3):553–9.
  7. Savage MO, Burren CP, Rosenfeld RG. The continuum of growth hormone IGF-I axis defects causing short stature: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2010;72(6):721–8.
  8. Cohen P, Rogol AD, Deal CL, et al. Consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of children with idiopathic short stature: a summary of the Growth Hormone Research Society, the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, and the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Workshop. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93(11):4210–
  9. Wit JM, Kiess W, Mullis P. Genetic evaluation of short stature. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;25(1):1–17.
  10. Grimberg A, DiVall S, Polychronakos C, et al. Guidelines for growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I treatment in children and adolescents: growth hormone deficiency, idiopathic short stature, and primary insulin-like growth factor-I deficiency. Horm Res Paediatr. 2016;86:361–97.
  11. Data on file. September 2018. Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

Important Safety Information and Indication

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to mecasermin (rhIGF-1), any of the inactive ingredients in INCRELEX®, or who have experienced a severe hypersensitivity to INCRELEX®. Allergic reactions have been reported, including anaphylaxis requiring hospitalization.
  • Intravenous Administration.
  • Closed Epiphyses.
  • Malignant Neoplasia in pediatric patients with malignant neoplasia or a history of malignancy.

Warnings and Precautions

  • Hypoglycemia: INCRELEX® should be administered 20 minutes before or after a meal or snack and should not be administered when the meal or snack is omitted. Glucose monitoring and INCRELEX® dose titration are recommended until a well-tolerated dose is established and as medically indicated.
  • Intracranial Hypertension: Funduscopic examination is recommended at the initiation of and periodically during the course of therapy.
  • Lymphoid Tissue Hypertrophy: Patients should have periodic examinations to rule out potential complications.
  • Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: Carefully evaluate any pediatric patient with the onset of a limp or hip/knee pain during INCRELEX® therapy.
  • Progression of Scoliosis: Patients with a history of scoliosis, treated with INCRELEX®, should be monitored.
  • Malignant Neoplasia: There have been postmarketing reports of malignant neoplasia in pediatric patients who received treatment with INCRELEX®. The tumors were observed more frequently in patients who received INCRELEX® at higher than recommended doses or at doses that produced serum IGF-1 levels above the normal reference ranges for age and sex. Monitor all patients receiving INCRELEX® carefully for development of neoplasms. If malignant neoplasia develops, discontinue INCRELEX® treatment.
  • Risk of Serious Adverse Reactions in Infants due to Benzyl Alcohol Preserved Solution: Serious and fatal adverse reactions including “gasping syndrome” can occur in neonates and infants treated with benzyl alcohol-preserved drugs. Use of INCRELEX® in infants is not recommended.

Adverse Reactions

Common adverse reactions include hypoglycemia, local and systemic hypersensitivity, and tonsillar hypertrophy.

Indication

INCRELEX® (mecasermin) is indicated for the treatment of growth failure in pediatric patients aged 2 years and older with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency* (IGFD), or with hormone (GH) gene deletion who have developed neutralizing antibodies to GH.1

Limitations of use: INCRELEX® is not a substitute to GH for approved GH indications. INCRELEX® is not indicated for use in patients with secondary forms of IGFD, such as GH deficiency, malnutrition, hypothyroidism, or chronic treatment with pharmacologic doses of anti-inflammatory steroids.1

*Severe primary IGF-1 deficiency (IGFD) is defined by height standard deviation score ≤ -3.0 and basal IGF-1 standard deviation score ≤ -3.0 and normal or elevated GH.