Every peptide, mapped to the body.

153 peptides, from approved drugs to compounds still in trials, sorted by where they act.

FDA-approved
In clinical trials
Wellness and performance
Cosmetic and topical

Loading the body

FDA-approved

Hormones & metabolism

Somapacitan

EvidenceFDA approved

ClassLong-acting GH analog

Somapacitan is a long-acting growth hormone, FDA-approved since 2020, given once weekly. Learn how it works, who it is for, and how it differs from daily doses.

Reviewed by: William Maish, MD MBA MPH, Clinical Product Lead
Published: October 5, 2026
Last updated: October 5, 2026

Key takeaway

Somapacitan (sold as Sogroya) is a long-acting form of growth hormone engineered for once-weekly dosing, used to replace growth hormone in children and adults who do not make enough. It attaches reversibly to the body's own albumin to slow its clearance, so one injection a week replaces the daily injections of standard growth hormone. It has been FDA-approved in the U.S. since 2020 and is given once weekly under the skin.

At a glance

What it is	A long-acting (once-weekly) growth hormone derivative
Approved for	Growth hormone deficiency in adults and children, and three other causes of short stature in children
Key fact	In the REAL 1 trial it reduced truncal fat in adults with growth hormone deficiency, comparable to daily growth hormone
Route	Subcutaneous injection, once weekly
Evidence strength	FDA approved

What is somapacitan?

Somapacitan, sold under the brand Sogroya, is a modified version of human growth hormone designed to last much longer in the body than natural or standard recombinant growth hormone. A small fatty-acid side chain lets it bind reversibly to albumin, the most abundant protein in blood, which shields it from rapid clearance and stretches its action out to a full week. It was developed under the code NNC0195-0092 and approved in the United States in 2020.

How does somapacitan work?

Somapacitan activates the growth hormone receptor just as natural growth hormone does, stimulating the liver and other tissues to produce insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and driving the metabolic and growth effects of the hormone. Its single amino-acid change and attached albumin-binding moiety do not change what it does at the receptor; they change how long it circulates. By binding albumin reversibly, the drug is released gradually, maintaining growth hormone activity across the week between doses.

For adults with growth hormone deficiency, restoring growth hormone improves body composition, reducing fat and supporting lean mass; for children who do not make enough growth hormone, it supports linear growth. In the REAL 1 trial in adults, once-weekly somapacitan significantly reduced truncal fat¹ compared with placebo and performed comparably to daily growth hormone. The weekly schedule is the practical advantage over conventional daily injections.

Is it FDA-approved?

Yes. Somapacitan was approved² by the FDA in 2020, and its approved uses have grown since:

Date	Approved use added
2020	Adults with growth hormone deficiency
2023	Pediatric growth hormone deficiency
February 2026	Idiopathic short stature in children 2.5 and older
February 2026	Short stature in children 2.5 and older born small for gestational age
February 2026	Growth failure from Noonan syndrome in children 2.5 and older

It is given as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection.

What is somapacitan prescribed for?

Somapacitan is prescribed to replace growth hormone in adults with growth hormone deficiency and in children 2.5 and older with growth failure due to inadequate growth hormone secretion. In children it is also prescribed for idiopathic short stature, short stature after being born small for gestational age, and growth failure associated with Noonan syndrome. The weekly dosing is often chosen to reduce the burden of daily injections.

What are the side effects?

According to the prescribing information, common side effects in adults include:

Back pain and joint pain
Indigestion and vomiting
Sleep problems and dizziness
Swelling in the hands and feet
High blood pressure and weight gain
Tonsillitis, anemia, and low cortisol levels

Common side effects in children include:

Cold symptoms, cough, and respiratory or ear infections
Fever and headache
Diarrhea and vomiting
Injection-site reactions
Pain in the arms or legs

More serious considerations include:

Fluid retention and reduced insulin sensitivity, shared with the growth hormone class
The need to monitor for the growth hormone class risks, including effects on glucose and, with any growth hormone, caution in active cancer
Increased pressure around the brain (intracranial hypertension), which is rare
Serious allergic reactions

More for hormones & metabolism

Sources: FDA prescribing information for Sogroya; the REAL 1 trial (Johannsson et al., The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2020, DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa049¹), indexed on PubMed. This document is educational and does not constitute medical advice.