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Getting Support

Resources to help you navigate the treatment journey

Serostim® Patient AXIS Center logo

The Patient AXIS Center®

You may have questions about insurance coverage, financial assistance, injection training, or other Serostim®-related questions. We’re here to provide you and your care team with the tools and resources to make your treatment journey with Serostim® as easy as possible, giving you and your healthcare provider more opportunities to focus on you.

Patient AXIS Center® Support Highlights

Ask your healthcare provider to enroll you today to help get your Serostim® faster!

With commercial insurance, Serostim® requires a Prior Authorization, which can add time to the process of getting your prescription. When you’re enrolled in the Patient AXIS Center®, we help you get your Prior Authorization faster, in around 2 weeks, which may help you get your prescription sooner. If you’re not enrolled, it may take longer to obtain Prior Authorization and get your prescription.

Enrolling in the Patient AXIS Center® is a simple way to get support

Enrollment

  1. Your healthcare provider writes you a prescription for Serostim®
  2. Your healthcare provider enrolls you in the Patient AXIS Center®. Simply provide your email address to your healthcare provider during enrollment so we can contact you to complete the appropriate Authorization and Enrollment forms. Rest assured that we take the privacy† and security of your information very seriously
  3. Once enrolled, you’ll have access to the resources and support the Patient AXIS Center® offers, including copay and other financial assistance programs, subject to eligibility requirements

Accessing Serostim® after enrollment

  1. The Patient AXIS Center® assists your healthcare provider in completing and submitting a Prior Authorization request to your insurance provider to determine eligibility for coverage of Serostim®
  2. Your insurance provider makes a decision on the Prior Authorization request
  3. If the Prior Authorization request is approved, the Patient AXIS Center® helps process your prescription and ensures that it is delivered to the pharmacy or your home. If the request is denied, the Patient AXIS Center® helps your healthcare provider with the appeal process
  4. Pick up or take delivery of your Serostim®; if needed, get injection training* through the Patient AXIS Center®; and begin your treatment

*An injection-training order is required. If injection training is requested, the patient’s provider will be contacted to create the order prior to any training being scheduled.

†See our Privacy Policy for information on how we handle personal information.

Important Safety Information and Indication

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You should not take Serostim® (somatropin) if you have:

  • A critical illness from surgery, serious injuries, or a severe breathing problem
  • Cancer or undergoing treatment for cancer
  • Eye problems caused by diabetes
  • Allergies to growth hormone or other ingredients in Serostim® vials

What is the most important information I need to know about Serostim®?

  • For patients with critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, serious injury or a sudden and severe breathing problem, there was an increase in death in those treated with Serostim® compared to those patients not treated with Serostim® (42% vs 19%).
  • You must be on antiretroviral therapy.
  • Cancer: Certain types are more common in people living with HIV.
  • If you have, or are at high risk for, type 2 diabetes or have higher than normal blood sugar, talk to your doctor.
  • Tell your doctor if you have changes in vision, headache, nausea, and/or vomiting which may be signs of increased brain pressure.
  • Seek prompt medical attention if you have an allergic reaction while taking Serostim®.
  • You may have swelling, especially in the hands and feet, as well as discomfort in bones, joints, and muscles. This may lessen with analgesics or talk to your doctor about reducing Serostim® dosing frequency.
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may occur, talk to your doctor about reducing the number of Serostim® doses in a week. If not resolved, treatment should be stopped.
  • If you have severe abdominal pain (possibly pancreatitis), call your doctor.

What are the most common side effects of Serostim® reported in clinical trials in patients treated for HIV‑associated wasting or cachexia?

  • Swelling, especially in the hands or feet or around the eyes
  • Bone, muscle, and joint pain or stiffness
  • Tingling, numbness and pain in the fingers, thumb or wrist
  • Unusual skin sensations
  • Breast enlargement in men
  • Nausea
  • Extreme tiredness

Other less common but serious side effects of Serostim® are:

  • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia/diabetes) which can include symptoms of increased thirst and urination, tiredness, or trouble concentrating.
  • Headaches, changes in vision, nausea or vomiting, which require immediate medical attention.
  • Serious allergic reactions that require immediate medical attention.
  • Pain and tenderness in the abdomen.

These are not all the possible side effects. Let your doctor know about any side effects you experience. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the following before taking Serostim®

  • If you are taking any other medicines (prescription or over the counter), vitamins, or supplements as these may affect each other. Your doctor may need to adjust the dose of Serostim® or other medicines you are taking.
  • Serostim® should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
  • Caution should be used in nursing mothers as it is unknown if Serostim® is passed in human milk.
  • Safety and effectiveness in pediatric HIV patients have not been established.
  • Unknown if HIV patients ≥ 65 years of age have a different response to Serostim® than those <65 years of age.

How should you administer Serostim®?

Patients and caregivers should be trained by a healthcare professional on how to mix and inject Serostim® prior to use. Never share Serostim® with another person, even if the needle is changed. Injection sites can include arms, legs, abdomen and should be changed daily to avoid injecting Serostim® in areas that are sore or bruised.

What is Serostim® (somatropin) for injection?

Serostim® is an injectable prescription medicine used for the treatment of HIV‑positive patients with wasting or cachexia to increase lean body mass and body weight, and improve physical endurance. Treatment with antiretroviral therapy at the same time is necessary.

You are encouraged to report possible side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You can also contact EMD Serono at 1-800-283-8088 ext. 5563

Please see the full Prescribing Information for complete information on Serostim® risks.

Important Safety Information and Indication

What is Serostim® (somatropin) for injection?

Serostim® is an injectable prescription medicine used for the treatment of HIV-positive patients with wasting or cachexia to increase lean body mass and body weight, and improve physical endurance. Treatment with antiretroviral therapy at the same time is necessary.

You should not take Serostim® if you have:

  • A critical illness from surgery, serious injuries, or a severe breathing problem
  • Cancer or undergoing treatment for cancer
  • Eye problems caused by diabetes
  • Allergies to growth hormone or other ingredients in Serostim® vials

What should I tell my doctor before using Serostim®?

  • If you have a critical illness from surgery, serious injury, or a severe breathing problem
  • If you have cancer or had cancer in the past.
  • If you have diabetes, are at risk for getting diabetes, or have blood sugar levels that are higher than normal. New cases of type 2 diabetes have been reported in patients taking Serostim®.
  • If you are allergic to growth hormone, benzyl alcohol, sucrose, phosphoric acid or sodium hydroxide.
  • If you are taking any other medicines (both prescription or over the counter), vitamins, or supplements because these medicines may affect each other. Your doctor may need to monitor for drug-drug interactions.
  • If you are nursing, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Serostim® passes into your breast milk or could harm your unborn baby.

What are the most common side effects of Serostim® reported in clinical trials in patients treated for HIV-associated wasting or cachexia?

  • Swelling, especially in the hands or feet or around the eyes
  • Bone, muscle, and joint pain or stiffness
  • Tingling, numbness and pain in the fingers, thumb or wrist
  • Breast enlargement in men
  • Nausea
  • Extreme tiredness

Other less common but serious side effects of Serostim® are:

  • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia/diabetes) which can include symptoms of increased thirst and urination, tiredness, or trouble concentrating
  • Serious allergic reactions that require immediate medical attention
  • Pain and tenderness in the abdomen
  • Headaches, changes in vision, nausea or vomiting, which requires immediate medical attention

These are not all of the possible side effects. Let your doctor know about any side effects you experience. Your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever or may decrease your dose of Serostim® to help manage some side effects.

You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should you administer Serostim®?

Patients and caregivers should be trained by a healthcare professional on how to mix and inject Serostim® prior to use. Never share Serostim® with another person, even if the needle is changed. Injection sites can include arms, legs, abdomen and should be changed daily.

Avoid injecting Serostim® in areas that are sore or bruised.

What is Serostim® (somatropin) for injection?

Serostim® is an injectable prescription medicine used for the treatment of HIV‑positive patients with wasting or cachexia to increase lean body mass and body weight, and improve physical endurance. Treatment with antiretroviral therapy at the same time is necessary.

 

Please see the full Prescribing Information and talk to your healthcare provider for complete information on Serostim® risks.

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This site is intended for U.S. residents and governed by U.S. laws and government regulations
Use and access of this site are subject to the terms and conditions set out in our Legal Statement and Privacy Policy.

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EMD Serono is the Healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S. and Canada.
Serostim and the AXIS Center are registered trademarks of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany or its affiliates.
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