a research study of how well macimorelin works to find out if children have a lack of growth hormone and how safe it is

Conditions: Growth Hormone Deficiency

Summary: this research study will find out if a new growth hormone stimulation test is safe and works as well as other tests to diagnose growth hormone deficiency (ghd) in children. the stimulation test will use a new growth hormone stimulating substance called macimorelin. by now, only adults in the usa can get this new stimulation test. the results of this study are expected to help children and teenagers with suspected ghd to get the macimorelin stimulation test. the macimorelin test will be compared to a clonidine and an arginine test. both are known standard stimulation tests. altogether two macimorelin tests are planned to be performed in the study, to show how repeatable macimorelin tests results are (under a set of similar conditions).

each study participant (patient) will have 5 to 6 visits in total with the study doctor. the study will last for about 1 to 4 months, dependent on how close the visits are done. at the visits 2, 3, 4 and 5, the patient will get a stimulation test done and blood samples will be taken. at those 4 visits, the patient will have either to drink a macimorelin drink, take some clonidine tablets or get an arginine infusion. in total, the patient will get 2 macimorelin, 1 clonidine and 1 arginine test done. the level of growth hormone (gh) will be measured 4 times during the clonidine and during the arginine test and 5 times during the macimorelin test. after the test, questions on the test tolerability will be captured from patients and parents. after the arginine test, a urine dipstick test is to be done by the patient at home.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: 1. informed consent of subject, parent(s) or legally acceptable representative (lar) of subject and child assent, if appropriate, must be obtained before any trial-related activities. trial-related activities are any procedures that are carried out as part of the trial, including activities to determine suitability for the trial. 2. male and female pediatric subjects from 2 to less than 18 years of age at the time of signing informed consent. 3. indication for the performance of growth hormone stimulation test. 4. presence of a height measurement minimum 6 and maximum 18 months prior to screening. exclusion criteria: 1. established diagnosis of a disease that is sufficient to explain growth deficiency or metabolic disorders that are also associated with short stature (e.g., turner syndrome, skeletal dysplasia's, celiac disease, etc.). 2. ongoing growth hormone therapy. 3. presence of hypothyroidism and/or adrenal insufficiency without adequate and stable replacement therapy treatment for at least 30 days prior to first ghst. 4. treatment with drugs directly affecting the pituitary secretion of somatotropin (e.g., somatostatin analogues, clonidine, levodopa and dopamine agonists) or provoking the release of somatostatin (antimuscarinic agents e.g., atropine). 5. medical history of ongoing clinically symptomatic psychiatric disorders. 6. 2nd or 3rd degree atrioventricular-block, prolongation of the qrs complex over 120 milliseconds, prolongation of the qtc interval over 450 milliseconds, or any other clinically significant abnormal electrocardiogram results at the v2 pre-dose electrocardiogram (ecg) as judged by the investigator. 7. previous participation in this trial. participation is defined as signed informed consent. 8. participation in any clinical trial of an approved or non-approved investigational medicinal product within 30 days before screening. 9. known or suspected hypersensitivity to trial product(s) or related products; 10. any disorder, which in the investigator's opinion might jeopardize subject's safety or compliance with the protocol. 11. concomitant treatment with any drugs that might prolong qt/qtc note: a subject who receives such treatment will not be a candidate for this study, if his/her condition does not allow for a treatment-free period of at least 5 elimination half-lives of the drug that might prolong qt/qtc before the ghst; 12. elevation of laboratory parameters indicating hepatic or renal dysfunction or damage (aspartate amino transferase (ast), alkaline phosphatase (alt), gamma-glutamyl transferase (ggt) \> 2.5 x upper limit of normal (uln); creatinine or bilirubin \> 1.5x uln); 13. current active malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancer; 14. female of child-bearing potential and not using an adequate contraceptive method (adequate contraceptive measures as required by local regulation or practice). 15. male of reproductive age who or whose partner(s) is not using an adequate contraceptive method (adequate contraceptive measures as required by local regulation or practice). 16. lack of ability or willingness to give informed consent by the subject and/or his/her legal representative; 17. anticipated non-availability for trial visits/procedures.

Keywords: childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency diagnosis of childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency diagnostic test for growth hormone deficiency