Pegvisomant dosage in published studies and labels
These are the doses used for Pegvisomant in FDA labelling and published clinical studies, reported as each source states them, one row per regimen. They describe what was studied or approved for a specific population. They are not a recommendation, and none of them is a dose for any individual.
Research and educational reference only. This is not medical advice, and no figure on this page is a dosing recommendation.
Last checked against primary sources:
Studied regimens and sources
Pegvisomant has an FDA-approved human dosage as Somavert, for acromegaly when surgery or radiation have not worked well enough or are not appropriate. The label gives a 40 mg subcutaneous loading dose under supervision, then 10 mg once daily from the next day, adjusted in 5 mg steps every 4–6 weeks to keep serum IGF-1 in the normal range, within 10–30 mg once daily.
| Human dosing established | Yes |
|---|---|
| Studied dose range | 10–30 mg once daily after a 40 mg loading dose |
| Route | Subcutaneous |
| Frequency | Once daily, after a single loading dose |
| Duration studied | Continuous |
| Titration | Measure serum IGF-1 every 4–6 weeks; raise the dose by 5 mg if IGF-1 is high and lower it by 5 mg if IGF-1 is below normal, within 10–30 mg once daily. The label says not to adjust the dose by growth hormone levels or symptoms. |
| Half-life | Mean half-life estimates of 60 to 138 hours after single or multiple doses (Somavert label) |
| Evidence level | FDA Approved |
| Last reviewed | 2026-11-07 |
Research-reported dosing
Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDA label — Somavert, acromegalyFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Adults with acromegaly who had an inadequate response to surgery or radiation, or for whom these are not appropriate | 40 mg loading dose, then 10 mg daily; range 10–30 mg, maximum 30 mg daily | Subcutaneous, upper arm, upper thigh, abdomen or buttocks | Once daily | Continuous; titrated against serum IGF-1 | In the label's 12-week placebo-controlled study (112 patients), mean IGF-1 fell by 27%, 48% and 63% with 10, 15 and 20 mg/day, against 4% with placebo | SOMAVERT (pegvisomant) for injection — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
Where sources disagree
- Pegvisomant blocks the growth hormone receptor. It lowers IGF-1 rather than raising it, so it works in the opposite direction to growth hormone products.
- The label asks for liver tests before starting and lists liver toxicity as a warning. It also warns that glucose tolerance may improve, so people with diabetes may need lower doses of their diabetes medicines to avoid hypoglycaemia.
- Somavert comes as single-dose vials of powder (10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 mg) packed with a prefilled syringe of 1 mL sterile water; each vial is reconstituted with that syringe and used immediately. The label says not to shake the vial.