Somatropin
/ Recombinant 191-amino-acid human growth hormoneALIAS · Recombinant human growth hormone · rhGH · Genotropin · Humatrope · Norditropin
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FDA-approved for multiple pediatric and adult GH-deficiency indications. The canonical approved GH therapy against which all GH secretagogues are theoretically compared.
Somatropin is recombinant human growth hormone (191 amino acids, identical in sequence to pituitary-derived human GH). It signals through the growth hormone receptor, driving IGF-1 production in liver and peripheral tissues and producing anabolic effects on muscle, bone, and body composition.
Approved since the 1980s (recombinant era; prior pituitary-derived GH was withdrawn after CJD contamination). Indications include pediatric GH deficiency, adult GH deficiency, Turner syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, chronic renal insufficiency growth failure, idiopathic short stature, SHOX deficiency, Noonan syndrome, and short bowel syndrome in adults.
Adverse events include fluid retention, arthralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, glucose intolerance, and in pediatric populations with underlying conditions, progression of scoliosis. Contraindications include active malignancy and acute critical illness.
Regulatory status
- FDA status:
- FDA-approved
- Compounding:
- Not eligible for compounding (approved, not in shortage)
Somatropin is the benchmark therapy that GH secretagogues (sermorelin, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, MK-677, tesamorelin) are implicitly compared against. For diagnosed GH deficiency, direct GH replacement has the evidence base; GH secretagogues have very limited human efficacy data outside of tesamorelin (HIV-lipodystrophy). Off-label anti-aging use of somatropin is a distinct regulatory issue and carries oncologic concerns with chronic elevated IGF-1.