Description

Somatropin, rh-GH is a purified recombinant growth hormone prepared by using either Escherichia coli or mammalian-cells. Endogenous human growth hormone (hGH) is produced in the pituitary gland. Growth hormone was first isolated in 1956, and its structure was identified in 1972. Prior to 1985, growth hormone (GH) was derived from human cadavers; however, the use of human derived GH was stopped due to contamination of the product with Creutzfeldt-Jakob virus. Somatropin is approved for treating growth hormone deficiency (GHD), growth failure, or short stature and for treating cachexia and AIDS wasting; it is also approved for adults with short bowel syndrome. Somatropin has been studied in the treatment of HIV-associated adipose redistribution syndrome (HARS); limited short-term data indicate use may decrease visceral adipose tissue. Several somatropin products are available, all with varying indications and dosage regimens. Care should be taken in product selection as products may not be considered interchangeable. Somatropin was originally approved by the FDA in 1987.