This page is intended as reference information for the general public.
What is Somavert and what is it used for?
Somavert is used for the treatment of acromegaly in adults, a hormonal disorder resulting from the increased secretion of growth hormone (GH) and IGF-I (insulin-like growth factors), which can be characterised by overgrowth of bone, soft tissue swelling, heart disease and related disorders.
Somavert is a powder and a solvent that are mixed together to make up a solution for injection.
Somavert is a product of biotechnology. The active substance in Somavert, pegvisomant, is known as a growth hormone receptor antagonist. These substances decrease the action of GH and levels of IGF-I circulating in the blood.
It is used in patients who did not respond well to surgery and/or radiation therapy, or treatment by somatostatin analogues.
After treatment has been initiated under the supervision of a physician experienced in the treatment of acromegaly a patient or carer can inject Somavert, providing that they have been trained appropriately by a doctor or nurse.
The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.
Reference Information
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is an agency of the European Union (EU). The Agency is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the EU. See what guidance they offer about Somavert.
Medicines in Northern Ireland fall under the remit of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) whilst medicines in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) fall under the remit of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) following the UK leaving the European Union. These agencies are responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies.
If you would like to see the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) or Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) for Somavert please follow these links:
Great Britain
Northern Ireland
Pfizer is unable to provide advice on personal medical matters. Please consult your doctor or other relevant health professional for specific, health-related advice and support.
If you get any side effects when taking this or any other medicine, talk to your doctor or other relevant health professional e.g. pharmacist, nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the packaging leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or search the Google Play or Apple App Store for MHRA Yellow Card. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.