Building Consensus for Superior Outcomes: Scaling New Heights in Growth
ShanghaiMay 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On May 8, the “Expert Guidance Exchange Meeting on the Clinical Application of Long-Acting Growth Hormone” was held in Shanghai, hosted by the China Medical Education Association and guided by the Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Practical Pediatrics. During the meeting, the “Expert Guidance on the Clinical Application of Long-Acting Growth Hormone Based on TransCon Technology” (hereinafter referred to as the “Guidance”) was officially released. The Guidance consolidates broad consensus from 25 leading experts in the field of pediatric endocrinology in China. As a guiding document focusing on the “TransCon” technology platform and the clinical application of related long-acting growth hormone, it systematically analyzes the characteristics and advantages of this innovative long-acting technology and clearly discusses practical guidance for the clinical use of lonapegsomatropin based on this technology, providing timely and authoritative scientific recommendations for the standardized clinical application of this innovative therapy.
Childhood Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) is an endocrine disorder caused by insufficient growth hormone secretion from the pituitary gland. Traditional treatment requires daily injections of short-acting growth hormone, imposing a heavy treatment burden on children and their families, while frequent missed doses directly impact treatment efficacy1. In recent years, the introduction of once-weekly long-acting growth hormone has provided a better option for more children and families, representing a significant trend in the iterative upgrade of growth hormone treatment regimens. However, significant differences exist among various long-acting technologies in terms of development pathways, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics, and clinical study data, posing certain challenges for physicians in clinical practice. The release of the Guidance provides direction for physicians to better understand and master the “TransCon” technology, and to more standardly use lonapegsomatropin, this innovative treatment option, in clinical settings.
Breakthrough Long-Acting Benefits: “TransCon” Technology Achieves Innovation from Mechanism of Action to Superior Efficacy
Clinical study data show that the long-acting growth hormone developed based on the “TransCon” technology platform is currently the only long-acting growth hormone proven in both domestic and international Phase 3 clinical trials to have superior height growth efficacy compared to daily injection formulations2,3. A Chinese Phase 3 study showed that treatment with lonapegsomatropin resulted in an annualized height velocity of 10.66 cm/year at 52 weeks, significantly superior to the 9.75 cm/year observed with the daily formulation; the improvement in height standard deviation score at Week 39 of treatment was equivalent to the level achieved with the daily formulation at Week 522. The application of “TransCon” technology in the development of long-acting growth hormone perfectly balances “long-acting” properties with maintaining the “native structure” of growth hormone. Upon entering the body, the drug continuously and slowly releases unmodified growth hormone molecules identical to endogenous growth hormone4. Furthermore, clinical study data with treatment durations of up to 6 years have confirmed that lonapegsomatropin maintains a safety profile consistent with the currently widely used daily growth hormone formulations5.
VISEN Pharmaceuticals: Supporting the Future of Children’s Growth in China with Innovation
“As an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on the endocrine field, VISEN Pharmaceuticals is committed to bringing ‘first-in-class’ or ‘best-in-class’ innovative therapies to China, ensuring not only that patients have access to medications, but also that they have access to good medications.” Mr. An-Pang Lu, CEO of VISEN Pharmaceuticals, stated: “The Guidance clearly elucidates the superior efficacy characteristics of the ‘TransCon’ technology platform and provides authoritative recommendations for its standardized application. Moving forward, we will continue to be driven by innovation, relying on the scientific guidance of the Guidance, to advance the management of children’s growth health from ‘treatment accessibility’ to ‘high-quality development’, enabling more Chinese children with GHD to obtain better treatment options and embrace a confident, upright future.”
The release of the Guidance promotes the transition of this innovative long-acting solution towards standardized clinical application, which is expected to further improve patient treatment adherence and ultimate efficacy, helping more children grow up healthily. Let Chinese children stand at a higher starting point.
References:
- De Pedro S, et al, et al. Variability in adherence to rhGH treatment: Socioeconomic causes and effect on children’s growth. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2016;26:32-5
- Ying Y, et al. Once-Weekly Lonapegsomatropin Was Efficacious and Well Tolerated in Chinese Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency: Results from a Phase 3 Randomized Trial. Horm Res Paediatr. 2026 Feb 27:1-12.
- Sprogøe K. The rationale and design of TransCon Growth Hormone for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency. Endocr Connect. 2017 Nov;6(8):R171-R181
- Maniatis AK, et al. Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency Treated with Lonapegsomatropin Demonstrated Sustained Height Improvements for up to 6 Years: enliGHten Trial Final Results. Horm Res Paediatr. 2025 Mar 6:1-13