In the pivotal heiGHt trial, the safety profile of SKYTROFA has been established in pediatric patients who weigh at least 11.5 kg1
AEs reported in ≥5% of SKYTROFA-treated pediatric patients and more frequently than in daily somatropin-treated† pediatric patients (52 weeks of treatment)1
Some patients taking SKYTROFA experienced mild injection-site reactions2
heiGHt: A 52-week open-label, active-controlled trial of treatment-naïve, prepubertal children aged 3 years and older with GHD (N = 161) randomized to SKYTROFA or daily somatropin.1,2 See Full Study Design
- †Daily somatropin used was Genotropin.2
- ‡Hemorrhage in the SKYTROFA treatment group included epistaxis (n = 3), contusion (n = 2), petechiae (n = 1), and eye hemorrhage (n = 1).1
- §Arthralgia and arthritis in the SKYTROFA treatment group included arthralgia (n = 5) and reactive arthritis (n = 1).1
Study design
A 52-week, randomized, open-label, active-controlled, parallel-group phase 3 study of 161 treatment-naïve, prepubertal (Tanner stage I) pediatric patients with GHD aged 3 years and older. Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either SKYTROFA 0.24 mg/kg/week (n = 105) or daily somatropin using Genotropin® 0.24 mg/kg/week (n = 56). The primary endpoint was AHV at 52 weeks.1,2
Patient demographics in heiGHt2*
| Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics |
SKYTROFA 0.24 mg/kg/week |
Daily somatropin† 0.24 mg/kg/week |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 105) | (n = 56) | (N = 161) | |
| Male, n (%) | 86 (82) | 46 (82) | 132 (82) |
| White, n (%) | 100 (95.2) | 52 (92.9) | 152 (94.4) |
| Chronological age (year) | 8.5 ± 2.7 | 8.5 ± 2.8 | 8.5 ± 2.7 |
| Bone age (year) | 5.8 ± 2.6 | 6.0 ± 2.7 | 5.9 ± 2.6 |
| Bone age/chronological age (ratio) | 0.69 ± 0.16 | 0.70 ± 0.14 | 0.69 ± 0.15 |
| Weight (kg) | 21.0 ± 6.5 | 21.2 ± 6.7 | 21.1 ± 6.6 |
| BMI (kg/m>2) | 16.1 ± 1.8 | 16.5 ± 2.2 | 16.2 ± 1.9 |
| Height (cm) | 112.9 ± 14.1 | 112.2 ± 15.3 | 112.7 ± 14.5 |
| Height (SDS) | -2.89 ± 0.85 | -3.00 ± 0.90 | -2.93 ± 0.87 |
| Historical growth rate (cm/year)‡ | 3.9 ± 2.0 | 3.9 ± 1.7 | 3.9 ± 1.9 |
| IGF-1 SDS | -2.08 ± 0.88 | -1.96 ± 0.98 | -2.04 ± 0.92 |
Study design
A multicenter, phase 3, open-label, single arm, 26-week trial investigating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of SKYTROFA administered once weekly in children with GHD. The trial included 3 treatment-naïve and 143 treatment-experienced patients previously treated with daily somatropin for ≤ 130 weeks. The mean daily somatropin dose was 0.29 mg/kg/week upon entering the trial. Safety and tolerability were the primary endpoints. Patients aged 6 months to 3 years could be treatment naïve and were included only in the safety and tolerability analyses.3
Patient demographics in fliGHt3: A broad range of pediatric patients enrolled in the 26-week clinical trial
| Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics |
Total enrolled | Previously treated |
|---|---|---|
| N = 146 | n = 143 | |
| Male, n (%) | 110 (75.3) | 109 (76.2) |
| White, n (%) | 124 (84.9) | 121 (84.6) |
| Hispanic or Latino, n (%) | 10 (6.8) | 10 (7.0) |
| Mean chronological age (year) | 10.6 | 10.8 |
| BMI SDS, mean (SD) | –0.3 (1.1) | –0.24 (1.06) |
| Height SDS, mean (SD) | –1.42 (0.84) | –1.40 (0.83) |
| Tanner stage, n (%) | ||
| I | 95 (65.1) | 92 (64.3) |
| II | 14 (9.6) | 14 (9.8) |
| III | 30 (20.5) | 30 (21.0) |
| IV | 7 (4.8) | 7 (4.9) |
| IGF‑1 SDS, mean (SD) | 0.85 (1.29) | 0.91 (1.25) |
| Daily somatropin dose at trial enrollment (mg hGH/kg/week) | n/a | 0.29 (0.05) |
| Daily somatropin dose duration since treatment initiation (years) | n/a | 1.14 (0.73) |
Study design
An open-label extension study of pediatric patients with GHD who had previously participated in phase 3 SKYTROFA trials, heiGHt (n = 158) or fliGHt (n = 140) (N = 298). The mean age at baseline of the enliGHten trial was 10.3 years. At the start of enliGHten trial, patients either received SKYTROFA 0.24 mg/kg/week or the most recent dose they received in the earlier study. Long-term safety was the primary endpoint.4,5
Patient demographics in enliGHten4
Patients from the heiGHt (n = 158) and fliGHt (n = 140) trials continued into the enliGHten open-label extension4,5
| Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics |
Full analysis set* | Treatment completers† |
|---|---|---|
| (N = 298) | (n = 81) | |
| Age, years, mean (SD) | 10.3 (3.4) | 13.3 (1.8) |
| Sex, male, n (%) | 235 (78.9) | 66 (81.5) |
| Height SDS, mean (SD) | –1.6 (0.9) | –1.6 (0.7) |
| IGF‑1 SDS, mean (SD) | 1.0 (1.3) | 0.8 (1.5) |
| Tanner stage, n (%) | ||
| I | 214 (71.8) | 22 (30.1) |
| II | 40 (13.4) | 17 (23.3) |
| III | 25 (8.4) | 28 (38.4) |
| IV | 16 (5.4) | 6 (8.2) |
| V | 3 (1.0) | 0 |
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
SKYTROFA® (lonapegsomatropin-tcgd) injection is a human growth hormone (GH) indicated for the:
- Treatment of pediatric patients aged 1 year and older who weigh at least 11.5 kg and have growth failure due to inadequate secretion of endogenous GH
- Replacement of endogenous GH in adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD)
CONTRAINDICATIONS
SKYTROFA is contraindicated in patients with:
- Acute critical illness after open heart surgery, abdominal surgery or multiple accidental trauma, or those with acute respiratory failure due to risk of increased mortality with use of somatropin
- Hypersensitivity to somatropin or any of the excipients in SKYTROFA
- Pediatric patients with closed epiphyses
- Active malignancy
- Active proliferative or severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- Pediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese, have a history of upper airway obstruction or sleep apnea, or have severe respiratory impairment due to the risk of sudden death
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
- Increased Mortality in Patients with Acute Critical Illness: Increased mortality has been reported after treatment with somatropin in patients with acute critical illness due to complications following open-heart surgery, abdominal surgery, multiple accidental trauma, and in patients with acute respiratory failure
- Severe Hypersensitivity: Serious systemic hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema have been reported with post-marketing use of somatropin products, including SKYTROFA. Inform patients and/or caregivers that such reactions are possible and that prompt medical attention should be sought if an allergic reaction occurs
- Increased Risk of Neoplasms: There is an increased risk of malignancy progression with somatropin treatment in patients with active malignancy. Any preexisting malignancy should be inactive, and its treatment complete prior to instituting SKYTROFA. In childhood cancer survivors treated with radiation to the brain/head for their first neoplasm who developed subsequent GHD and were treated with somatropin, an increased risk of a second neoplasm has been reported. Children with certain rare genetic causes of short stature have an increased risk of developing malignancies and should be carefully monitored for development of neoplasms. Monitor patients with a history of GHD secondary to an intracranial neoplasm for progression/recurrence of the tumor. Monitor patients carefully for development of neoplasms and/or increased growth/potential malignant changes of preexisting nevi. Advise patients/caregivers to report changes in the appearance of preexisting nevi
- Glucose Intolerance and Diabetes Mellitus: Treatment with somatropin may decrease insulin sensitivity, particularly at higher doses. Previously undiagnosed impaired glucose tolerance and overt type 2 diabetes mellitus may be unmasked. Monitor glucose levels in all patients, especially those with risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus, such as obesity or a family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. When initiating SKYTROFA, monitor patients with preexisting type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance closely, and adjust the doses of antihyperglycemic drugs as needed
- Intracranial Hypertension: Intracranial hypertension (IH) with papilledema, visual changes, headache, nausea, and/or vomiting has been reported in a small number of patients treated with somatropin. Symptoms usually occurred within 8 weeks of the initiation of somatropin and resolved rapidly after cessation of therapy/reduction of the dose. Perform fundoscopic examination prior to initiation of treatment and periodically thereafter. If papilledema is observed, stop the treatment. If somatropin-induced IH is confirmed, restart SKYTROFA treatment at a lower dose after IH-associated signs and symptoms have resolved
- Fluid Retention: May occur during somatropin therapy. Clinical manifestations of fluid retention (eg, edema, arthralgia, myalgia, nerve compression syndromes including carpal tunnel syndrome/paresthesia) are usually transient and dose dependent
- Hypoadrenalism: Patients receiving somatropin therapy who have or are at risk for pituitary hormone deficiency(s) may be at risk for reduced serum cortisol levels and/or unmasking of central (secondary) hypoadrenalism. Patients treated with glucocorticoid replacement for previously diagnosed hypoadrenalism may require an increase in their maintenance/stress doses following initiation of SKYTROFA therapy. Monitor patients with known hypoadrenalism for reduced serum cortisol levels and/or need for glucocorticoid dose increases
- Hypothyroidism: Undiagnosed/untreated hypothyroidism may prevent an optimal response to SKYTROFA. Monitor thyroid function periodically as hypothyroidism may occur or worsen after initiation of SKYTROFA
- Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis in Pediatric Patients: Slipped capital femoral epiphysis may occur more frequently in patients undergoing rapid growth and may lead to osteonecrosis. Evaluate pediatric patients receiving SKYTROFA with the onset of a limp or complaints of persistent hip or knee pain for slipped capital femoral epiphysis and osteonecrosis, and manage accordingly
- Progression of Preexisting Scoliosis in Pediatric Patients: Monitor patients with a history of scoliosis for disease progression
- Pancreatitis: Cases of pancreatitis have been reported in pediatric patients receiving somatropin. The risk may be greater in pediatric patients than in adults. Consider pancreatitis in patients with persistent severe abdominal pain
- Lipoatrophy: Lipoatrophy may result when somatropin is administered at the same site over a long period of time. Rotate injection sites to reduce this risk
- Sudden Death in Pediatric Patients With Prader-Willi Syndrome: There have been reports of fatalities after initiating therapy with somatropin in pediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome who had one or more of the following risk factors: severe obesity, history of upper airway obstruction or sleep apnea, or unidentified respiratory infection. Male patients with one or more of these factors may be at greater risk than female patients. SKYTROFA is not indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients who have growth failure due to genetically confirmed Prader-Willi syndrome
- Laboratory Tests: Serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and phosphate may increase after SKYTROFA therapy. Serum levels of parathyroid hormone may increase after somatropin treatment. If a patient is found to have abnormal laboratory tests, monitor as appropriate
ADVERSE REACTIONS
- Pediatric patients with GHD: the most common adverse reactions (≥ 5%) in patients treated with SKYTROFA and more frequently than in those treated with daily somatropin were viral infection, pyrexia, cough, nausea and vomiting, hemorrhage, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and arthralgia and arthritis
- Adult patients with GHD: the most common adverse reaction (≥ 5%) in patients treated with SKYTROFA and more frequently than in those treated with placebo were edema and central (secondary) hypothyroidism
DRUG INTERACTIONS
- Glucocorticoids: Patients treated with glucocorticoid replacement for hypoadrenalism may require an increase in their maintenance or stress doses following initiation of SKYTROFA
- Pharmacologic Glucocorticoid Therapy and Supraphysiologic Glucocorticoid Treatment: Adjust glucocorticoid dosing in pediatric patients to avoid both hypoadrenalism and an inhibitory effect on growth
- Cytochrome P450-Metabolized Drugs: SKYTROFA may alter the clearance. Monitor carefully if used with SKYTROFA
- Oral Estrogen: Patients receiving oral estrogen replacement may require higher SKYTROFA dosages
- Insulin and/or Other Antihyperglycemic Agents: Dose adjustment of insulin and/or antihyperglycemic agent may be required for patients with diabetes mellitus
You are encouraged to report side effects to FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Ascendis Pharma at 1-844-442-7236.
Please click here for SKYTROFA full Prescribing Information.
GHD = growth hormone deficiency; IFU = Instructions for Use; QRG = Quick Reference Guide.
References: 1. SKYTROFA. Prescribing information. Ascendis Pharma Endocrinology, Inc.; 2025. 2. Maniatis AK, Casella SJ, Nadgir UM, et al. Safety and efficacy of lonapegsomatropin in children with growth hormone deficiency: enliGHten trial 2-year results. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022;107(7):e2680-e2689. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgac217 3. Ascendis Pharma Endocrinology, Inc. Data on file; 2020.
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