Abstract
Purpose. To examine the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of ipamorelin, a growth hormone (GH) releasing peptide, in healthy volunteers.
Methods. A trial was conducted with a dose escalation design comprising 5 different infusion rates (4.21, 14.02, 42.13, 84.27 and 140.45 nmol/kg over 15 minutes) with eight healthy male subjects at each dose level. Concentrations of ipamorelin and growth hormone were measured.
Results. The PK parameters showed dose-proportionality, with a short terminal half-life of 2 hours, a clearance of 0.078 L/h/kg and a volume of distribution at steady-state of 0.22 L/kg. The time course of GH stimulation by ipamorelin showed a single episode of GH release with a peak at 0.67 hours and an exponential decline to negligible GH concentration at all doses. The ipamorelin−GH concentration relationship was characterized using an indirect response model and population fitting. The model employed a zero-order GH release rate over a finite duration of time to describe the episodic release of GH. Ipamorelin induces the release of GH at all dose levels with the concentration (SC50) required for half-maximal GH stimulation of 214 nmol/L and a maximal GH production rate of 694 mlU/L/h. The inter-individual variability of the PD parameters was larger than that of the PK parameters.
Conclusions. The proposed PK/PD model provides a useful characterization of ipamorelin disposition and GH responses across a range of doses.
Access this article
Log in via an institution
Subscribe and save
Springer+
from €37.37 /Month
Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals Cancel anytime View plans
Buy Now
Price includes VAT (Hong Kong/P.R.China)
Instant access to the full article PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
B. M. Lippe and J. M. Nakamoto. Conventional and nonconventional uses of growth hormone. Recent Prog. Horm. Res. 48:179-235 (1993).
Google Scholar
K. K. Ho, A. J. O'Sullivan, and D. M. Hoffman. Metabolic actions of growth hormone in man. Endocr. J. 43:S57-63 (1996).
Google Scholar
M. Oyarzabal, M. Aliaga, M. Chueca, G. Echarte, and A. Ulied. Multicentre survey on compliance with growth hormone therapy: what can be improved? Acta. Paediatr. 87:387-391 (1998).
Google Scholar
C. Pintor, S. Loche, R. Puggioni, S. G. Cella, V. Locatelli, A. Lampis, and E. E. Muller. Growth hormone deficiency states: approach by CNS-acting compounds. In Advances in Growth Hormone and Growth Factor Research, eds. E.E. Muller, D. Cocchi, and V. Locatelli, pp. 375-388, Pythogora press, Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg, Germany (1989).
Google Scholar
C. Y. Bowers. GH releasing peptides-structure and kinetics. J. Pediatr. Endocrinol. 6:21-31 (1993).
Google Scholar
M. Ankersen, N. L. Johansen, K. Madsen, B. S. Hansen, K. Raun, K. K. Nielsen, H. Thogersen, T. K. Hansen, B. Peschke, J. Lau, B. F. Lundt, and P. H. Andersen. A new series of highly potent growth hormone-releasing peptides derived from ipamorelin. J. Med. Chem. 41:3699-3704 (1998).
Google Scholar
R. Smith; L. H. T. Van der Ploeg, A. D. Howard, S. D. Feighner, K. Cheng, G. J. Hickey, M. J. Wyvratt, M. H. Fisher, R. P. Nargund, and A. A. Patchett. Peptidomimetic regulation of growth hormone secretion. Endocrinol. Rev. 5:621-645 (1997).
Google Scholar
C. Y. Bowers, G. A. Reynolds, D. Durham, C. M. Barrera, S. S. Pezzoli, and M. O. Thorner. Growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide stimulates GH release in normal men and acts synergistically with GH-releasing hormone. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 70:975-982 (1990).
Google Scholar
P. B. Johansen, K. T. Hansen, J. V. Andersen, and N. L. Johansen. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of ipamorelin and other peptidyl growth hormone secretagogues with emphasis on nasal absorption. Xenobiotica 28:1083-1092 (1998).
Google Scholar
S. L. Beal, L. B. Sheiner, editors. NONMEM user's guide. San Francisco, CA: NONMEM Project Group, University of California; 1992.
Google Scholar
N. L. Dayneka, V. Garg, and W. J. Jusko. Comparison of four basic models of indirect pharmacodynamic responses, J. Pharmacokin. Biopharm. 24:457-478 (1993).
Google Scholar
C. Pihoker, G. L. Kearns, D. French, and C. Y. Bowers. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2: A phase I study in children. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 83:1168-1172 (1998).
Google Scholar
S. S. Hong, P. Veng-Pedersen, H. Agersoe, and L. Yndal. Semiparametric pharmacodynamic (PD) modeling of biocompound stimulation drugs. PD of a new human growth hormone releasing peptide (GHR). Pharm. Sci. Suppl. 1:S-236 (1998).
Google Scholar
K. Friend, A. Iranmanesh, and J. D. Veldhuis. The orderliness of the growth hormone (GH) release process and the mean mass of GH secreted per burst are highly conserved in individual men on successive days. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 81:3746-3753 (1996).
Google Scholar
J. D. Veldhuis, M. L. Carlson, and M. L. Johnson. The pituitary gland secretes in bursts: appraising the nature of glandular secretory impulses by simultaneous multiple-parameter deconvolution of plasma hormone concentrations. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7686-7690 (1987).
Google Scholar
W. K. DeBell, S. S. Pezzoli, and M. O. Thorner. Growth hormone (GH) secretion during continuous infusion of GH-releasing peptide: partial response attenuation. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 72:1312-1316 (1991).
Google Scholar
K. Raun, B. S. Hansen, N. L. Johansen, H. Thogersen, K. Madsen, M. Ankersen, and P. H. Andersen. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. Eur. J. Endocrin. 139:552-561 (1998).
Google Scholar
Download references
Author information
Author notes
Jogarao V. S. Gobburu
Present address: Pharmacometrics Division, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland, 20852
Authors and Affiliations
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260
Jogarao V. S. Gobburu & William J. Jusko
Department of Pharmacokineties, Novo Nordisk A/S, DK-2760, Maaloev, Denmark
Henrik Agersø & Lars Ynddal
Authors
Jogarao V. S. Gobburu Henrik Agersø William J. Jusko Lars Ynddal
Corresponding author
Correspondence to William J. Jusko.
About this article
Cite this article
Gobburu, J.V.S., Agersø, H., Jusko, W.J. et al. Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Ipamorelin, a Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide, in Human Volunteers. Pharm Res 16, 1412–1416 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018955126402
Download citation
Issue date: September 1999
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018955126402