Mecasermin is recombinant human insulin-like growth factor 1

Insulin-like growth factor 1

Insulin-like growth factor 1 also known as somatomedin C is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IGF1 gene. IGF-1 has also been referred to as a "sulfation factor" and its effects were termed "nonsuppressible insulin-like activity" in the 1970s.IGF-1 is a hormone similar in molecular...

 (IGF-I) which is used for the long-term treatment of growth failure in children with severe primary IGF-I deficiency.

This drug is not to be confused with mecasermin rinfabate (trade name: Iplex), which is the binary complex of recombinant human IGF-1 (rhIGF-1) and the binding protein that IGF-1 is naturally adhered to in the human body.