Short answer: Sogroya (somapacitan) is a long-acting growth hormone given under the skin once a week; daily somatropin products such as Norditropin are injected every day.12 In a 52-week trial of 200 children with growth hormone deficiency, height velocity was 11.2 cm/year on weekly Sogroya vs 11.7 cm/year on daily somatropin; the difference was not significant.1
| Sogroya (somapacitan-beco) | Daily somatropin (e.g. Norditropin) | |
|---|---|---|
| How often | Once a week, any time of day1 | Daily (children: 6 or 7 days a week)2 |
| What it is | Growth hormone analog that binds albumin, which slows its clearance1 | Recombinant human growth hormone2 |
| Adult GHD start | 1.5 mg once weekly; raise by about 0.5 to 1.5 mg every 2 to 4 weeks; max 8 mg weekly1 | About 0.2 mg a day (0.15 to 0.3 mg); raise by 0.1 to 0.2 mg every 1 to 2 months2 |
| Children with GHD | 0.16 mg/kg once weekly1 | 0.17 to 0.24 mg/kg per week, split into daily doses (0.024 to 0.034 mg/kg/day)2 |
| Half-life | About 2 to 3 days in adults with GHD; about 34 hours in children1 | About 7 to 10 hours after an injection under the skin in adults with GHD2 |
| Missed dose | Take within 3 days; if more than 3 days, skip and take the next one on schedule1 | See each product label |
| Pens | 5, 10 and 15 mg per 1.5 mL1 | Norditropin FlexPro 5, 10, 15 mg per 1.5 mL and 30 mg per 3 mL2 |
| IGF-1 checks (adults) | Draw blood 3 to 4 days after the last dose1 | Adjust by IGF-1 and clinical response2 |
Yes, several times, all reported on the Sogroya label:1
The Sogroya label says to pick the weekly day, take the last daily dose the day before (or at least 8 hours before) the first Sogroya dose, and start at the label dose: 1.5 mg weekly for adults, 0.16 mg/kg weekly for children with GHD.1 Levels reach steady state after 1 to 2 weekly doses.1
More detail: Sogroya side effects, Norditropin side effects, and the Sogroya and Norditropin dosing schedules.
That is a decision for you, or your child, and the prescriber. Fewer injections, insurance coverage and how growth or IGF-1 responds usually decide it. For growth hormone vs secretagogues, see HGH vs MK-677: how do they differ?.