Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Jintrolong and Other Long-Acting Growth Hormones for Growth Hormone Deficiency in East Asia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.
Jintrolong may provide a slight improvement in growth outcomes without increased safety risks compared to other GH treatments, but the clinical impact is unclear.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the hgh (somatropin) corpusSummary and findings
This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of Jintrolong compared to other long-acting growth hormones and daily GH in pediatric GH deficiency. Jintrolong demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in height velocity and change in height standard deviation score over 52 weeks. No significant differences in adverse events were observed among the treatments.
Abstract
Objective This study compares the efficacy and safety of Jintrolong with other long-acting growth hormones and daily growth hormone (GH) in pediatric GH deficiency. Methods English and Chinese databases were comprehensively searched from inception to 30 June 2025. Efficacy outcomes were height velocity (HV), change in HV (cHV), and change in height standard deviation score (cHSDS). Safety outcomes were adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs). Results Among the 5 studies included, Jintrolong showed better effect on HV (mean difference [MD], 0.86 cm/year; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13 to 1.6) than pegpesen (MD, -0.10 cm/year; 95% CI, -0.53 to 0.32) and somapacitan (MD, -0.030 cm/year; 95% CI, -0.52 to 0.46) compared with daily GH. Similarly, for cHV and cHSDS, Jintrolong demonstrated a statistically significant improvement compared with daily GH (cHV: MD, 0.84 cm/year; 95% CI, 0.077 to 1.60; cHSDS: MD, 0.080; 95% CI, 0.0013 to 0.16). No significant differences were reported in the incidence of AEs and SAEs among Jintrolong (AE: risk ratio [RR], 1.0; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.4; SAE: RR, 0.0049; 95% CI, ∼0 to 3 216 099.58), pegpesen (AE: RR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.54 to 1.8; SAE: RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.03 to 42.34), somapacitan (AE: RR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.3; SAE: RR, 2.6; 95% CI, 0.82 to 12), compared with daily rhGH. Conclusion Jintrolong showed more favorable growth responses in 52 weeks compared with other long-acting growth hormones and daily GH without increasing safety risks.
Background
Growth hormone deficiency in children is typically treated with daily growth hormone injections, but long-acting formulations may offer advantages in terms of compliance and convenience. This study addresses the comparative efficacy and safety of Jintrolong, a long-acting growth hormone, against other long-acting formulations and daily GH. Understanding these differences is important for optimizing treatment strategies in pediatric patients.
Methods
This systematic review and network meta-analysis searched English and Chinese databases up to June 30, 2025. It included five studies that evaluated the efficacy and safety of Jintrolong compared to other long-acting growth hormones and daily GH in pediatric patients. The primary efficacy outcomes were height velocity, change in height velocity, and change in height standard deviation score. Safety outcomes included adverse events and serious adverse events.
Results
Jintrolong demonstrated a mean difference in height velocity of 0.86 cm/year (95% CI, 0.13 to 1.6) compared to daily GH. The change in height velocity was 0.84 cm/year (95% CI, 0.077 to 1.60), and the change in height standard deviation score was 0.080 (95% CI, 0.0013 to 0.16). No significant differences were found in the incidence of adverse events or serious adverse events among the treatments.
Interpretation
The findings suggest that Jintrolong may offer a modest but statistically significant improvement in growth outcomes compared to daily GH and other long-acting formulations. However, the clinical significance of these improvements is uncertain due to the small effect size. The lack of significant differences in safety outcomes is reassuring, but the limited number of studies and potential variability in methodologies should be considered when interpreting these results.
Key findings
- Jintrolong HV: MD 0.86 cm/year; 95% CI, 0.13 to 1.6.
- Jintrolong cHV: MD 0.84 cm/year; 95% CI, 0.077 to 1.60.
- Jintrolong cHSDS: MD 0.080; 95% CI, 0.0013 to 0.16.
- AE incidence Jintrolong: RR 1.0; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.4.
- SAE incidence Jintrolong: RR 0.0049; 95% CI, ∼0 to 3 216 099.58.
Limitations
- Small number of included studies.
- Potential variability in study designs.
- Limited reporting on long-term outcomes.
- Network meta-analysis assumptions may introduce bias.