IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,539,293
Granted Patent B2
US 12,539,293 · App. 17/582,117 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Detecting and treating growth hormone deficiency

Inventor: Michael Oliver Thorner (Charlottesville, VA)
A61K31/435A61K31/454A61P5/00G01N33/74G01N2333/61G01N2333/65
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,539,293
App. No.
17/582,117
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein is a new oral method for using MK-0677 for detecting growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD). Also described is a method of treating growth hormone (GH) deficiency (MD) in children with a functional hypothalamic-pituitary GH axis.

Claims (18)

1 . A method of treating growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children, comprising: administering a therapeutically effective amount of MK-0677 to a child known to have short stature and equivalent growth potential compared to rhGH.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a single, oral 0.8 mg/kg/d dose of MK-0677 is administered.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein mini-tablets, comprising: MK-0677, are orally administered.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the mini-tablet, comprises: 2 mg of MK-0677.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein pediatric GHD is treated.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the orally administering, further comprises: administering with the assistance of a device capable of dispensing at least one MK-0677 mini-tablet.

7 . A method of treating GHD in children, comprising:

a testing a child known to have short stature for GHD using a theranostic test; and,

b orally administering a therapeutically effective amount of MK-0677 to a child found to have short stature and equivalent growth potential compared to rhGH.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein a single, oral 0.8 mg/kg/d dose of MK-0677 is administered.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein mini-tablets, comprising: MK-0677, are orally administered.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the mini-tablet, comprises: 2 mg of MK-0677.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the orally administering, further comprises: administering with the assistance of a device capable of dispensing at least one MK-0677 mini-tablet.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein pediatric GHD is treated.

13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the theranostic test, comprises:

(i.) testing for a peak serum GH≥5 □g/L in response to a single oral dose of MK-0677; and,

(ii.) testing for a baseline serum IGF-I of >30 ng/mL.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a single, oral 0.8 mg/kg/d dose of MK-0677 is administered in step (i).

Continuity (7)
Continuation 17128452 · Dec 21, 2020
Continuation 16136967 · Sep 20, 2018
Division 15706991 · Sep 18, 2017
Continuation 15271542 · Sep 21, 2016
Provisional Application 62289221 · Jan 30, 2016
Provisional Application 62221191 · Sep 21, 2015
Related Publication 20220142989A1 · May 12, 2022
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