[Ten years experience with the first approved biosimilar recombinant human growth hormone drug in normal clinical practice]. / Diez años de experiencia con el primer biosimilar autorizado de hormona del crecimiento recombinante humana en la práctica clínica habitual.

INTRODUCTION: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is the first biosimilar drug approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2006, using the biosimilar registration process. It was authorised for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency, and growth disorders associated with Turner's syndrome, chronic renal failure, Prader-Willi syndrome, and growth disorders in children/adolescents born small for gestational age, and replacement therapy in adults with pronounced growth hormone deficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review is focused on the scientific evidence published about this drug in the last ten years, including the clinical trials on which the approval of the regulatory authority is based, and the most relevant studies evaluating the clinical impact of the drug in clinical practice. RESULTS: The equivalence between biosimilar and original product has been confirmed in the clinical trials published by Romer et al. and López-Siguero et al. Furthermore, studies carried out in real-life conditions confirm its long-term efficacy and safety, as well as the absence of clinical impact by switching treatment from the original to the biosimilar product. CONCLUSION: The number of patients receiving this medication has continuously increased since its approval. Its equivalence with the original product has been verified. Preliminary data from the post-authorisation PATRO study confirm the efficacy and safety of the biosimilar product in comparison with data from clinical trials. However, final results must be evaluated at the end of the study, which will provide additional information about the long-term efficacy and safety of the biosimilar drug.

A follow-up study to monitor adult height among Spanish children with growth hormone deficiency who received biosimilar human recombinant growth hormone (Omnitrope®) during a phase III clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: An initial Phase III clinical trial has evaluated the efficacy and safety of biosimilar recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH; Omnitrope(®), Sandoz) in Spanish children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). At the end of the study, those patients still growing were offered to remain on treatment (as in usual clinical practice), and continued to be monitored. The aim of this study was to determine the adult height achieved by the Spanish children who participated in the initial Phase III clinical trial, and to evaluate the long-term safety of rhGH treatment. METHODS: This study was a multicenter, observational, retrospective follow-up study of patients who participated in the Phase III clinical trial (70 patients recruited). Auxological parameters [including height, height velocity, and their associated height standard deviation scores (HSDS)] were obtained from 39 patients. Safety was assessed by recording any adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: In total, 27 men and 12 women provided auxological data. At the start of the follow-up study, the mean age of the patients was 12.5 ± 2.7 years, mean height was 144.8 ± 13.9 cm and mean HSDS was -1.16 ± 0.63. By the end of the follow-up period, mean height had increased to 163.1 ± 7.6 cm (n = 36; men 165.5 ± 7.8 cm, women 157.6 ± 3.2 cm) and mean HSDS also increased to -1.01 ± 0.59 (n = 36; men -1.07 ± 0.52, women -0.86 ± 0.72). In terms of safety, no treatment-related AEs were reported during the study. CONCLUSION: This cohort of Spanish patients with GHD showed a positive response to rhGH treatment, achieving adult height within the local normal ranges. In addition, rhGH treatment was well tolerated, with no new or additional safety concerns.