Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, Nutropin AQ, Saizen, Omnitrope, Zomacton
Evidence Grade A — Regulatory approved. 397 published studies. 671 registered clinical trials.
Loading...
Somatropin is laboratory-made human growth hormone, identical to what the pituitary gland naturally produces. It is the standard treatment for growth hormone deficiency in children and adults, and is also approved for several other growth-related conditions. Available from multiple manufacturers under many brand names (Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, Omnitrope, and others), it requires daily injections — a burden that newer weekly alternatives are now beginning to address.
397 published studies: 280 human, 16 animal, 12 in-vitro, 71 reviews
Somatropin has been available since the mid-1980s and is one of the most established peptide therapies. It is sold under numerous brand names including Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, and Omnitrope (the first biosimilar approved in the US, 2006). Approved indications include childhood and adult growth hormone deficiency, Turner syndrome, children born small for gestational age, Prader-Willi syndrome, idiopathic short stature, and short stature from chronic kidney disease.
Daily injection has been the main burden of somatropin therapy, particularly for paediatric patients who may require years of treatment. This has driven the development of once-weekly alternatives (somatrogon and somapacitan), which are gradually changing the treatment landscape. Annual treatment costs remain substantial, and concerns about misuse in anti-ageing and performance enhancement contexts are ongoing.
Growth hormone is one of the body's master hormones, orchestrating growth, metabolism, and body composition throughout life. When the pituitary gland does not produce enough, somatropin replaces it directly. Once injected, it triggers the liver to produce IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), which is the main driver of growth in children. In adults, growth hormone maintains bone density, muscle mass, and healthy body fat distribution, and supports cardiovascular and metabolic function.
Somatropin has decades of clinical data and is one of the oldest biotechnology products still in widespread use. The biosimilar landscape has expanded significantly since Omnitrope became the first US biosimilar in 2006, improving access and reducing costs. The main practical challenge is the daily injection requirement, particularly for children who may need years of treatment. This has driven the development of once-weekly alternatives (somapacitan and somatrogon), which are gradually changing the treatment landscape. Safety considerations include a theoretical cancer risk related to IGF-1 elevation (large studies are inconclusive), pressure in the brain (intracranial hypertension), and hip joint problems in growing children. Misuse of growth hormone for anti-ageing and athletic performance purposes remains a public health concern.
Administration of Growth Hormone to Increase CD4+ Count in Patients Taking Anti-HIV Drugs
Growth Hormone Treatment of Children With HIV-Associated Growth Failure
Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Neuroendocrine Tumor That Is Metastatic or Unlikely to Respond to Surgery or Radiation Therapy
Growth Hormone Use in Cystic Fibrosis - a Multicenter Study
Effect of Growth Hormone on Leptin, Cytokines and Body Composition of Children With Growth Failure Due to Chronic Kidney Disease
FDA ORIG 1
FDA SUPPL 1
FDA SUPPL 3
FDA SUPPL 2
FDA SUPPL 4
FDA SUPPL 5
FDA SUPPL 6
FDA SUPPL 8
FDA SUPPL 7
FDA SUPPL 9
FDA SUPPL 10
FDA ORIG 1
FDA ORIG 1
FDA SUPPL 11
FDA SUPPL 12
FDA SUPPL 14
FDA SUPPL 1
FDA ORIG 1
FDA SUPPL 3
FDA SUPPL 2
FDA SUPPL 4
FDA SUPPL 5
FDA SUPPL 13
FDA SUPPL 17
FDA SUPPL 1
FDA ORIG 1
FDA SUPPL 2
FDA SUPPL 3
FDA SUPPL 7
FDA SUPPL 15
FDA SUPPL 6
FDA SUPPL 16
FDA SUPPL 19
FDA SUPPL 18
FDA SUPPL 2
FDA SUPPL 20
FDA SUPPL 2
FDA SUPPL 3
FDA SUPPL 21
FDA SUPPL 8
FDA SUPPL 4
FDA SUPPL 10
FDA SUPPL 1
FDA SUPPL 3
FDA SUPPL 9
FDA SUPPL 5
FDA SUPPL 5
FDA SUPPL 4
FDA SUPPL 15
FDA SUPPL 11
FDA SUPPL 12
FDA SUPPL 7
FDA SUPPL 8
FDA SUPPL 6
FDA SUPPL 22
FDA SUPPL 16
FDA SUPPL 17
FDA SUPPL 18
FDA SUPPL 13
FDA SUPPL 24
FDA SUPPL 12
FDA SUPPL 4
FDA SUPPL 10
FDA SUPPL 11
FDA SUPPL 9
FDA SUPPL 20
FDA SUPPL 5
FDA SUPPL 7
FDA SUPPL 6
FDA SUPPL 22
FDA SUPPL 11
FDA SUPPL 13
FDA SUPPL 24
FDA SUPPL 26
FDA SUPPL 23
FDA ORIG 1
FDA SUPPL 25
FDA SUPPL 21
FDA SUPPL 9
FDA SUPPL 12
FDA SUPPL 30
FDA SUPPL 27
FDA SUPPL 6
FDA SUPPL 13
FDA SUPPL 28
FDA SUPPL 8
FDA SUPPL 29
FDA SUPPL 10
FDA SUPPL 32
FDA SUPPL 33
FDA SUPPL 28
FDA SUPPL 34
FDA SUPPL 26
FDA SUPPL 1
FDA SUPPL 29
FDA SUPPL 15
FDA SUPPL 15
FDA SUPPL 30
FDA SUPPL 14
FDA SUPPL 35
FDA SUPPL 17
FDA SUPPL 31
FDA SUPPL 2
FDA SUPPL 16
FDA SUPPL 16
FDA SUPPL 14
FDA SUPPL 36
FDA SUPPL 19
FDA SUPPL 20
FDA SUPPL 8
FDA SUPPL 37
FDA SUPPL 7
FDA SUPPL 17
FDA SUPPL 25
FDA SUPPL 39
FDA SUPPL 18
FDA SUPPL 23
FDA SUPPL 41
FDA SUPPL 31
FDA SUPPL 21
FDA SUPPL 22
FDA SUPPL 32
FDA SUPPL 38
FDA SUPPL 40
FDA SUPPL 33
FDA SUPPL 27
FDA SUPPL 44
FDA SUPPL 26
FDA SUPPL 30
FDA SUPPL 40
FDA SUPPL 6
FDA SUPPL 7
FDA SUPPL 29
FDA SUPPL 9
FDA SUPPL 4
FDA SUPPL 21
FDA SUPPL 22
FDA SUPPL 31
FDA SUPPL 45
FDA SUPPL 27
EMA Marketing Authorisation
FDA SUPPL 49
FDA ORIG 1
FDA SUPPL 46
FDA SUPPL 13
FDA SUPPL 34
FDA SUPPL 47
FDA SUPPL 52
FDA SUPPL 58
FDA SUPPL 35
FDA SUPPL 15
FDA SUPPL 14
FDA SUPPL 33
FDA SUPPL 57
FDA SUPPL 16
FDA SUPPL 40
FDA SUPPL 55
FDA SUPPL 44
FDA SUPPL 18
FDA SUPPL 17
FDA SUPPL 37
FDA SUPPL 36
FDA SUPPL 26
FDA SUPPL 2
FDA SUPPL 60
FDA SUPPL 4
FDA SUPPL 23
FDA SUPPL 66
FDA SUPPL 61
FDA SUPPL 70
FDA SUPPL 25
FDA SUPPL 68
FDA SUPPL 6
FDA SUPPL 64
FDA SUPPL 16
FDA SUPPL 48
FDA SUPPL 68
FDA SUPPL 27
FDA SUPPL 19
FDA SUPPL 8
FDA SUPPL 7
FDA SUPPL 78
FDA SUPPL 15
FDA SUPPL 84
FDA SUPPL 18
FDA SUPPL 71
FDA SUPPL 35
FDA SUPPL 23
FDA SUPPL 17
FDA SUPPL 86
FDA SUPPL 72
FDA SUPPL 49
FDA SUPPL 45
FDA SUPPL 58
FDA SUPPL 67
FDA SUPPL 65
FDA SUPPL 68
FDA SUPPL 71
FDA SUPPL 23
FDA SUPPL 73
FDA SUPPL 74
FDA SUPPL 40
FDA SUPPL 90
FDA SUPPL 25
FDA SUPPL 49
FDA SUPPL 27
FDA SUPPL 50
FDA SUPPL 39
FDA SUPPL 75
FDA SUPPL 75
FDA SUPPL 76
FDA SUPPL 93
FDA SUPPL 95
FDA SUPPL 52
FDA SUPPL 27
FDA SUPPL 51
FDA SUPPL 78
FDA SUPPL 29
FDA SUPPL 92
FDA SUPPL 96
FDA SUPPL 82
FDA SUPPL 28
FDA SUPPL 97
FDA SUPPL 80
FDA SUPPL 77
FDA SUPPL 41
FDA SUPPL 81
FDA SUPPL 28
FDA SUPPL 98
FDA SUPPL 42
FDA SUPPL 80
FDA SUPPL 26
FDA SUPPL 54
FDA SUPPL 31
FDA SUPPL 43
FDA SUPPL 28
FDA SUPPL 78
FDA SUPPL 55
FDA SUPPL 44
FDA SUPPL 32
FDA SUPPL 30
FDA SUPPL 81
FDA SUPPL 82
FDA SUPPL 56
FDA SUPPL 45
FDA SUPPL 34
FDA SUPPL 57
FDA SUPPL 58
FDA SUPPL 59
FDA SUPPL 84
FDA SUPPL 46
FDA SUPPL 79
FDA SUPPL 36
FDA SUPPL 60
FDA SUPPL 38
FDA SUPPL 61
FDA SUPPL 104
FDA SUPPL 88
FDA SUPPL 89
FDA SUPPL 90
FDA SUPPL 34
FDA SUPPL 48
FDA SUPPL 103
FDA SUPPL 37
FDA SUPPL 47
FDA SUPPL 87
FDA SUPPL 22
FDA SUPPL 93
FDA SUPPL 74
FDA SUPPL 49
FDA SUPPL 47
FDA SUPPL 45
FDA SUPPL 29
FDA SUPPL 40
FDA SUPPL 37
FDA SUPPL 38
FDA SUPPL 49
FDA SUPPL 51
FDA SUPPL 48
FDA SUPPL 50
FDA SUPPL 105
FDA SUPPL 91
FDA SUPPL 90
FDA SUPPL 53
FDA SUPPL 53
FDA SUPPL 50
Health Canada Market Authorisation
FDA SUPPL 108
FDA SUPPL 63
FDA SUPPL 92
FDA SUPPL 43
FDA SUPPL 58
FDA SUPPL 58
FDA SUPPL 56
FDA SUPPL 65
FDA SUPPL 68
FDA SUPPL 111
FDA SUPPL 108
FDA SUPPL 62
FDA SUPPL 62
FDA SUPPL 110
Tesamorelin is marketed as Egrifta SV (approved November 2010) for the reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy. In clinical trials, it reduced visceral fat by approximately 15% compared to a 5% increase with placebo, and this reduction was sustained with continued treatment. Tesamorelin occupies a unique niche — it is the only approved GHRH analogue and the only medication specifically approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Beyond its approved indication, it has attracted research interest for potential effects on liver fat, cognitive function, and peripheral neuropathy. Fat reduction reverses when treatment stops, and it is not approved for general weight loss or body composition purposes.
Somatrogon is marketed as Ngenla (approved June 2023) for paediatric growth hormone deficiency in children aged 3 years and older. In the pivotal trial, once-weekly somatrogon produced growth rates equivalent to daily somatropin injections (10.1 cm/year versus 9.8 cm/year), confirming that reducing injection frequency does not compromise growth outcomes. Ngenla represents a meaningful advance for paediatric patients and their families, reducing injections from 365 to 52 per year. Treatment adherence has been a persistent challenge with daily growth hormone, and weekly dosing is expected to improve long-term outcomes through better compliance. Somatrogon competes directly with somapacitan (Sogroya), the other approved weekly growth hormone, creating a new generation of less burdensome treatment options.
Sermorelin was formerly marketed as Geref (Serono) before voluntary withdrawal in 2009. The FDA confirmed the withdrawal was not related to safety or effectiveness. Research suggests it remains one of the most commonly prescribed compounds through US compounding pharmacies, particularly in anti-ageing and hormone optimisation clinics. Research suggests sermorelin's appeal lies in its more physiological approach to growth hormone enhancement compared to direct growth hormone injection — it preserves pulsatile release and feedback regulation. However, clinical evidence for its use in adults outside the original paediatric growth hormone deficiency indication is limited, and its very short half-life requiring daily injection is a practical limitation. Compounding pharmacy formulations are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as FDA-approved products.
