Sogroya contains the active substance somapacitan: a long acting version of the natural growth hormone produced by the body with a single amino acid substitution. Growth hormone regulates the composition of fat, muscle and bone in adults.
The active substance in Sogroya is made by 'recombinant DNA technology', meaning from cells that have received a gene (DNA) that makes them produce growth hormone. In Sogroya, a small side-chain has been attached to the growth hormone which links Sogroya to the protein (albumin) naturally found in the blood to slow down its removal from the body, allowing the medicine to be given less often.
Sogroya is used to treat growth failure in children and adolescents aged 3 years and above if they have no or very low production of growth hormone (growth hormone deficiency) and adults who have growth hormone deficiency.
Your doctor will evaluate based on your response to Sogroya, if you should continue your treatment with Sogroya a year after starting with this medicine.
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Sogroya is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) from a pre-filled pen. You can give the injection yourself. Your doctor or nurse will tell you the right dose and show you how to give the injection when you or the child in your care start treatment.
- You or the child in your care should use Sogroya once a week on the same day each week if possible.
- You can give yourself the injection at any time of the day.
If you or the child in your care are changing from another weekly growth hormone therapy to Sogroya, you are advised to continue injecting on the same week day.
If you or the child in your care are changing from daily growth hormone therapy to Sogroya choose the preferred day for the weekly dose and inject the last dose of daily treatment the day before (or at least 8 hours before) injecting the first dose of Sogroya.
Changing from another type or brand of growth hormone should be done by your doctor.
If it is not possible for you or the child in your care to inject Sogroya on your usual week day, you can inject Sogroya up to 2 days before or 3 days after your scheduled dosing day. The next dose you can inject as usual the following week.
If necessary you can change the day of your weekly injection of Sogroya as long as it has been at least 4 days since you had your last injection of it. After selecting a new dosing day, continue giving yourself the injection on that day each week.
You may need Sogroya for as long as your body does not produce enough growth hormone
- If you or the child in your care are using Sogroya for growth failure you will continue using Sogroya until you stop growing
- If you or the child in your care still lack growth hormone after you stop growing, you may need to continue using Sogroya into adulthood
Do not stop using Sogroya without discussing this with your doctor first.
Children and adolescents
The dose for children and adolescents depends on the body weight.
The recommended dose of Sogroya is 0.16 mg per kg body weight given once a week.
Adults
The usual starting dose is 1.5 mg once a week if you are having growth hormone treatment for the first time. If you have been previously treated with daily growth hormone medicine (somatropin) the usual starting dose is 2 mg once a week.
If you are a woman taking oral oestrogen (contraception or hormonal replacement therapy) you may need a higher dose of somapacitan. If you are above 60 years, you may need a lower dose. See Table 1 below.
Your doctor may increase or decrease your dose step by step and regularly until you are on the right dose based on your individual needs and your experience of side effects.
- Do not use more than a maximum of 8 mg once a week.
- Do not change your dose unless your doctor has told you to.
Table 1 Dose recommendation
Adult growth hormone deficiency Recommended starting dose
You have not received daily growth hormone medicine before
You are ≥18 to <60 years 1.5 mg/week
You are woman on oral oestrogen therapy regardless of age 2 mg/week
You are 60 years or above 1 mg/week
You have previously received daily growth hormone medicine
You are ≥18 to <60 years 2 mg/week
You are woman on oral oestrogen therapy regardless of age 4 mg/week
You are 60 years or above 1.5 mg/week
After you have reached your right dose, your doctor will evaluate your treatment every 6 to 12 months. You may need to have your body mass index checked and blood samples taken.
Your doctor or nurse will show you how to inject Sogroya under your skin.
The best places to give the injection are:
- the front of your thighs
- the front of your waist (abdomen)
- the buttocks
- the upper arms.
Change the place of injection on your body from one week to the next.
Detailed instructions on how to inject Sogroya, the instructions for use, are included at the end of this booklet.
If you or the child in your care accidentally use more Sogroya than you should, talk to your doctor as your blood sugar levels may need to be checked.
If you or the child in your care forget to inject a dose:
- and it is 3 days or less after you should have used Sogroya, use it as soon as you remember.
Then inject your next dose on your usual injection day - and it is more than 3 days since you should have used Sogroya, skip the missed dose. Then inject your next dose as usual on your next scheduled day.
Do not inject an extra dose or increase the dose to make up for a missed dose.
Do not stop using Sogroya without talking to your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the pen label and carton after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C). Do not freeze. Keep away from the freezing element.
After first opening
Use within 6 weeks after first use. Store in a refrigerator (2°C - 8°C).
Before and after first opening
If you cannot refrigerate (for example during travelling), Sogroya may be kept temporarily at temperatures up to 30°C for up to a total of 72 hours (3 days). Return Sogroya to the refrigerator again after storage at this temperature. If you store out of the refrigerator and then return to the refrigerator, the total combined time out of the refrigerator is 3 days, monitor this carefully. Discard the Sogroya pen, if you have kept it at 30°C for more than 72 hours, or for any period of time above 30°C.
Record the time outside the refrigerator:________________
Keep Sogroya in the outer carton with the pen cap on to protect from light.
Always remove the injection needle after each injection and store the pen without a needle attached.
Do not use this medicine if the solution does not appear clear to slightly opalescent, colourless to slightly yellow and free from visible particles.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
5 Steps you should follow for a Sogroya injection:
Step 1. Prepare your Sogroya pen ............................................................................................................ 10
Step 2. Check the flow with each new pen .............................................................................................. 11
Step 3. Select your dose ........................................................................................................................... 12
Step 4. Inject your dose ........................................................................................................................... 13
Step 5. After your injection...................................................................................................................... 15
For further information about your pen, see sections: Check how much Sogroya is left, How to care for your pen, Important information.
Please read the package leaflet and these instructions carefully before using your Sogroya pre-filled pen.
Pay special attention to these notes as they are important for safe use of the pen.
Additional information
Sogroya contains 15 mg of somapacitan and it can be used to inject doses from 0.10 mg to 8 mg, in steps of 0.1 mg. Sogroya is for use under the skin only (subcutaneous). Needles are not included and must be obtained separately. Sogroya pre-filled pen is designed to be used with disposable needles of a length between 4 mm and 8 mm and a gauge between 30G and 32G.
Do not share your Sogroya pen and needles with another person. You may give another person an infection or get an infection from them.
Do not use your pen without proper training from your doctor or nurse. Make sure that you are confident giving yourself an injection with the pen before you start your treatment. If you are blind or have poor eyesight and cannot read the dose counter on the pen, do not use this pen without help. Get help from a person with good eyesight who is trained to use the pen.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Check the name, strength and coloured label on your pen to make sure that it contains Sogroya and the appropriate strength.
- Pull off the pen cap.
- Turn the pen upside down once or twice to check that the Sogroya in your pen is clear to slightly opalescent or colourless to slightly yellow. See figure A.
- If Sogroya contains visible particles, do not use the pen.
Make sure the right pen is used. Especially if you use more than one type of injectable medicine. Using the wrong medicine could be harmful to your health.
- When you are ready to inject, take a new disposable needle. Firstly, tear off the paper tab.
- Secondly, push the needle straight onto the pen. Turn the needle clockwise until it is on tight. See figure B.
- Pull off the outer needle cap and keep it for later. You will need it after the injection, to safely remove the needle from the pen. See figure C.
The needle is covered by two caps. You must remove both caps. If you forget to remove both caps you will not inject any medicine. See figure C and D.
- Pull off the inner needle cap and dispose of it. If you try to put it back on, you may accidentally stick yourself with the needle. See figure D.
A drop of Sogroya may appear at the needle tip. This is normal, but you must still check the flow with each new pen. See Step 2.
Always use a new needle for each injection. This reduces the risk of contamination, infection, leakage of Sogroya, and blocked needles leading to incorrect dosing.
Never use a bent or damaged needle.
If your pen is already in use, proceed to Step 3.
- Before using a new pen, check the flow to make sure Sogroya can flow through the pen and needle.
- Turn the dose selector clockwise one tick mark to select 0.10 mg. You may hear a faint click. See figure E.
- One tick mark equals 0.10 mg in the dose counter. See figure F.
- Hold the pen with the needle pointing up. Press and hold in the dose button until the dose counter returns to ‘0’. The ‘0’ must line up with the dose pointer. See figure G.
- Check that a drop of Sogroya appears at the needle tip. See figure H.
If no Sogroya appears, repeat Step 2 up to 6 times.
If you still do not see a drop of Sogroya, replace the needle once as described in Step 5 and repeat Step 1 and 2 again.
If no Sogroya appears when you check the flow, your needle may be blocked or damaged. Do not use your pen if Sogroya still does not appear after changing the needle. Your pen may be defective.
- To start, check that the dose counter is set at ‘0’.
- Turn the dose selector clockwise to select the dose you need. See figure I.
When you have selected your dose, you can proceed to Step 4.
If there is not enough Sogroya left to select a full dose, see Check how much Sogroya is left.
The dose counter shows the dose in mg. See figures J and K. Always use the dose pointer to select the exact dose.
Do not count the pen clicks. Do not use the pen scale (see Overview of Sogroya pen) to measure how much growth hormone to inject. Only the dose pointer will indicate the exact number of mg.
If you select the wrong dose, you can turn the dose selector clockwise or counterclockwise to the correct dose. See figure L.
The pen clicks sound and feel differently when the dose selector is turned clockwise, counterclockwise, or if you accidentally force it past the number of mg left.
- Insert the needle into your skin as your doctor or nurse has shown you. See figure M.
Make sure you can see the dose counter. Do not cover it with your fingers. This could block the injection.
Remember to change the injection site every week.
- Press and hold down the dose button until the dose counter shows ‘0’ (See figure N). The ‘0’ must line up with the dose pointer. You may then hear or feel a ‘click’.
Continue to hold down the dose button with the needle in your skin.
- Keep holding down the dose button with the needle in your skin and slowly count to 6 to make sure that the full dose has been delivered (see figure O).
If ‘0’ does not appear in the dose counter after continuously pressing the dose button, the needle or pen may be blocked or damaged, and you have not received any Sogroya – even though the dose counter has moved from the original dose that you have set.
Remove the needle as described in Step 5 and repeat Steps 1 to 4.
- Carefully remove the needle from your skin. See figure P. If blood appears at the injection site, press lightly. Do not rub the area.
You may see a drop of Sogroya at the needle tip after injecting. This is normal and does not affect your dose.
- Insert the needle tip into the outer needle cap on a flat surface without touching the needle or the outer needle cap. See figure Q.
- Once the needle is covered, carefully push the outer needle cap completely on. See figure R.
- Unscrew the needle and dispose of it carefully as instructed by your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or local authorities.
Always dispose of the needle after each injection.
When the pen is empty, remove and dispose of the needle as above and throw the pen away separately as instructed by your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or local authorities.
The pen cap and the empty carton can be disposed of in your household waste.
- Put the pen cap on your pen after each use to protect Sogroya from direct light. See figure T.
To store your pen, see How to store in this booklet.
Do not try to put the inner needle cap back on.
You may stick yourself with the needle.
Always remove the needle from your pen immediately after each injection. This reduces the risk of contamination, infection, leakage of Sogroya, and blocked needles leading to incorrect dosing.
The pen scale shows you approximately how much Sogroya is left in your pen. See figure U.
To see how much Sogroya is left, use the dose counter: Turn the dose selector clockwise until the dose counter stops. You can select a maximum dose of 8 mg. If it shows ‘8’ at least 8 mg are left in your pen.
If the dose counter stops at ‘4.8’, only 4.8 mg are left in your pen. See figure V.
What if I need a larger dose than what is left in my pen?
It is not possible to select a larger dose than the amount of mg left in your pen.
If you need more Sogroya than you have left in your pen, you can use a new pen or split your dose between your current pen and a new pen. Only if trained or advised by your doctor or nurse, you may split your dose. Use a calculator to plan the doses as instructed by your doctor or nurse.
Be very careful to calculate correctly, otherwise it may lead to medication error. If you are not sure how to split your dose using two pens, then select and inject the dose you need with a new pen.
How should I take care of my pen?
Be careful not to drop your pen or knock it against hard surfaces. Do not expose your pen to dust, dirt, liquid, or direct light.
Do not try to refill your pen, it is pre-filled and must be disposed of when empty.
What if I drop my pen?
If you drop your pen or think that something is wrong with it, attach a new disposable needle and check the flow before you inject, see Steps 1 and 2. If your pen has been dropped, check the cartridge, if the cartridge is cracked, do not use the pen.
How do I clean my pen?
Do not wash, soak, or lubricate your pen. It may be cleaned with mild detergent on a moistened cloth.
- Caregivers must be very careful when handling needles – to reduce the risk of needle sticks and cross-infection.
- Always keep your pen and needles out of reach of others, especially children.
- Do not use the pen if it is damaged. Do not try to repair your pen or pull it apart.
- To store your pen, see How to store in this booklet.
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