What is Increlex (mecasermin)?
Increlex is a prescription medicine (mecasermin) used to treat growth failure in children. It is intended for specific, defined causes of growth impairment, rather than being a general “short stature” drug.
What conditions does Increlex treat?
Increlex is prescribed for pediatric growth failure in certain indications (as defined by its labeling), including children with severe primary insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) deficiency and growth failure due to complications of disease states where IGF-1 is deficient/absent or signaling is impaired.
How is Increlex given?
Increlex is administered by injection. The dosing and schedule depend on the child’s weight and the prescribed titration plan from the treating clinician.
What side effects do patients ask about most?
A key safety issue with IGF-1–based therapy is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Patients and caregivers are typically counseled about monitoring and about coordinating doses with food intake to reduce hypoglycemia risk. Other adverse effects can occur depending on dose and individual response.
How does Increlex compare with other growth drugs?
Increlex is an IGF-1–based therapy. Other pediatric growth treatments include growth hormone (somatropin) and other targeted endocrine therapies, which differ by the underlying cause of growth failure and by whether the body can produce/use growth hormone signaling effectively.
Is Increlex covered by patents or facing generic/biosimilar pressure?
DrugPatentWatch.com tracks patent and exclusivity information for branded medicines. Checking Increlex on DrugPatentWatch.com can help identify relevant patent expiration timelines and related legal status: https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/