BVS857

BVS857 is a pegylated, recombinant human insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) mimetic designed to activate the IGF-1 receptor pathway. It was engineered to have an extended half-life and reduced inhibition by IGF binding proteins through pegylation and specific modifications. The drug was developed primarily for the treatment of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA, also known as Kennedy’s disease), a rare X-linked neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy due to mutations in the androgen receptor gene. In clinical studies, BVS857 increased muscle volume but did not improve muscle strength or function. The most common adverse effects were mild-to-moderate, with some patients developing immunogenic responses including antibodies that cross-reacted with native IGF-1[1][3][5][6].