Mecasermin

Mecasermin, sold under the brand name Increlex, also known as recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-1), is a recombinant form of human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) which is used in the long-term treatment of growth failure and short stature in children with severe primary IGF-I deficiency, for instance due to growth hormone deficiency or Laron syndrome (growth hormone insensitivity).^[3][4][5]

Mecasermin

Clinical data
Trade names	Increlex
Other names	FK-780; Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1; rhIGF-1; Somatomedin-1
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
Pregnancy category	AU: B3 [1]
Routes of administration	Subcutaneous injection
ATC code	H01AC03 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only)[1] CA: ℞-only / Schedule D[2] US: ℞-only[3]
Pharmacokinetic data
Elimination half-life	5.8 hours[3]
Identifiers
CAS Number	68562-41-4 N
DrugBank	DB01277 N
ChemSpider	none
UNII	7GR9I2683O
KEGG	D04870 N
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1201716 N
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C331H512N94O101S7
Molar mass	7648.71 g·mol−1
NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Mecasermin has a biological half-life of about 5.8 hours in children with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency.^[3]

A related medication is mecasermin rinfabate (brand name Iplex), which is a combination of mecasermin (rhIGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein acid labile subunit (IGFALS) as a ternary complex.^[6] The complex serves to prolong the action of mecasermin in the human body; the half-life of mecasermin when provided as this complex is 13.4 hours in individuals with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency.^[6]

Mecasermin therapy has been also shown to be beneficial in other conditions not related to growth failure, including diabetes mellitus and anorexia nervosa.^[7]