How Mecasermin works
Prescription IGF-1 approved for rare childhood growth failure; low blood sugar is a major risk.
Also called: Increlex, rhIGF-1, Recombinant human IGF-I, Somatomedin C.
IGF-1 and analogues · Recombinant human IGF-1 replacement · Evidence: Approved drug.
Mecasermin replaces IGF-1, a growth signal normally made in response to growth hormone. It helps growth-plate cells grow and tissues take up nutrients. It can also lower blood sugar. Once growth plates have closed, it cannot make bones longer.
- IGF-1 receptor: Supports cell growth and growth-plate activity.
- Glucose metabolism: Increases tissue glucose uptake and reduces glucose output from the liver.
Half-life: Mean 5.8 hours in 3 people with severe primary IGF-1 deficiency after one injection under the skin.
Related to Mecasermin
- IGF-1 LR3: An unapproved growth signal with no human trials found.
- Somatropin: Prescription human growth hormone, with no proven anti-aging benefit.
Sources
- Bulk Drug Substances Used in Compounding Under Section 503A of the FD&C Act, FDA · FDA · 2026
- Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers, FDA · FDA · 2026
- Purple Book Search, FDA · 2026
- The 2026 Prohibited List, World Anti-Doping Agency · WADA · 2026
- Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—October 2026) Instrument 2026, Australian Government · Australian Government · 2026
- INCRELEX (mecasermin) current prescribing information, revised October 2025, Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · DailyMed / Eton Pharmaceuticals · 2025
- INCRELEX (mecasermin) injection, for subcutaneous use, U.S. Food and Drug Administration · FDA · 2025
- INCRELEX (mecasermin) injection, for subcutaneous use, U.S. Food and Drug Administration · FDA · 2024
- Notice to Compounders: Changes that affect compounding as of March 23, 2020, FDA · 2020
- Tailor Made Compounding LLC - 594743 - 04/01/2020, FDA · FDA · 2020
- AusPAR: Mecasermin, Therapeutic Goods Administration
- Increlex, European Medicines Agency
- Increlex, INN-mecasermin, European Medicines Agency
- Know When to Go to the ER, American College of Emergency Physicians · American College of Emergency Physicians
- Mecasermin (Increlex▼): risk of benign and malignant neoplasia, MHRA
Sources checked: 2026-10-18.
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