Exploring adverse events associated with vosoritide monotherapy: Insights from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System

TL;DR

This study examines the safety of vosoritide, a drug for dwarfism, by analyzing adverse events reported to the FDA, revealing key side effects in pediatric patients.

Contribution

The study provides the first detailed pharmacovigilance analysis of vosoritide monotherapy using FDA data.

Findings

Vosoritide was associated with endocrine-related adverse events like altered growth hormone and glucose issues.

Pediatric patients experienced notable adverse events, including growth deceleration and injection site reactions.

Signal detection algorithms identified significant safety signals across multiple system organ classes.

Abstract

Dwarfism, a condition characterized by short stature, has been the focus of therapeutic advancements with the emergence of novel peptide drugs. Vosoritide, indicated for certain types of dwarfism, has shown therapeutic potential in clinical trials. However, a comprehensive safety profile is essential for its clinical application. The current literature lacks a detailed assessment of vosoritide’s safety, indicating a significant gap that this study aims to address.

We conducted a retrospective pharmacovigilance study by analyzing the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database to evaluate adverse events (AEs) associated with vosoritide monotherapy. The study employed a case/non-case methodology and applied signal detection algorithms, including the Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), and Multi-Item Gamma Poisson Shrinker (MGPS), to identify AE signals related to vosoritide use.

The study included 9319269 reports from the FAERS database, covering the period from 2022 to 2023, with 274 reports specifically citing vosoritide. A significant number of AEs were identified, with a notable incidence in the pediatric population. The most frequently reported AEs were related to endocrine disorders, including altered growth hormone levels and glucose homeostasis issues. Other affected system organ classes (SOCs) were infections and infestations, as well as skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders. Specific preferred terms (PTs) associated with vosoritide included “growth deceleration,” “glycemic dysregulation,” and “local injection site reactions.”

The findings from this study underscore the importance of close monitoring of vosoritide treatment, particularly in pediatric patients. The identification of both expected and unexpected AEs highlights the necessity for ongoing pharmacovigilance and further research to fully understand the safety profile of vosoritide in clinical practice. This study contributes to the broader field by emphasizing the critical need for patient safety considerations in the development of new therapeutic agents.

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