Macimorelin (
INN) – or Macrilen (trade name) – is a drug that was
developed by
Æterna Zentaris for use in the diagnosis of adult
growth hormone deficiency. Macimorelin acetate, the salt formulation, is a synthetic growth hormone secretagogue receptor agonist. It is a
growth hormone secretagogue receptor
Growth hormone secretagogue receptor(GHS-R), also known as ghrelin receptor, is a G protein-coupled receptor that binds growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs), such as ghrelin, the "hunger hormone". The role of GHS-R is thought to be in regulating en ...
(ghrelin receptor) agonist causing release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland. Macimorelin acetate is described chemically as D-Tryptophanamide, 2-methylalanyl-N-
1R)-1-(formylamino)-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethylacetate.
Macimorelin (Macrilenâ„¢) was invented and first synthesized by the research group of Professor Martinez at
University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientitifique (
CNRS
The French National Centre for Scientific Research (french: link=no, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS) is the French state research organisation and is the largest fundamental science agency in Europe.
In 2016, it employed 31,637 ...
), France. This transpired from a long-lasting research collaboration with Aeterna Zentaris. Aeterna Zentaris later in-licensed macimorelin as a development candidate from the CNRS and proceeded with the pre-clinical and clinical development of the compound.
As of January 2014, it was in
Phase III clinical trials
The phases of clinical research are the stages in which scientists conduct experiments with a health intervention to obtain sufficient evidence for a process considered effective as a medical treatment. For drug development, the clinical phases ...
. The phase III trial for growth hormone deficiency is expected to be complete in December 2016.
As of December 2017, it became FDA-approved as a method to diagnose growth hormone deficiency. Traditionally, growth hormone deficiency was diagnosed via means of insulin tolerance test (IST) or glucagon stimulation test (GST). These two means are done parenterally, whereas Macrilen boasts an oral formulation for ease of administration for patients and providers.
The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers it to be a
first-in-class medication.
See also
*
List of growth hormone secretagogues
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby union ...
References
External links
*
*
Formamides
Ghrelin receptor agonists
Growth hormone secretagogues
Tryptamines
Peptides
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