Somatropin (rhGH)
Also referenced as: Somatropin, Recombinant human growth hormone, Genotropin, Serostim
Recombinant human growth hormone with multiple distinct approved products.
- Evidence grade
- AStrong Clinical Evidence
Strong Clinical Evidence
- Regulatory status
- FDA Approved for Specific Indication
Multiple FDA-approved brands have distinct indications, including GHD and selected growth disorders. Selected brands treat HIV wasting or short bowel syndrome; not normal aging or athletic enhancement.
- Human data
- Yes
Registered clinical trials exist
- Last reviewed
- October 27, 2026
Overview
Recombinant human growth hormone with multiple distinct approved products.
Multiple FDA-approved brands have distinct indications, including GHD and selected growth disorders. Selected brands treat HIV wasting or short bowel syndrome; not normal aging or athletic enhancement.
It is hormone replacement or direct GH therapy, not a GH secretagogue. Brand-specific indications are not interchangeable.
Why It's Being Studied
- Growth hormone deficiency
- Pediatric growth
- Product-specific HIV wasting research
Mechanism of Action
The generally native 191-amino-acid hormone activates GH receptors directly and raises IGF-1 signalling.
The generally native 191-amino-acid hormone activates GH receptors directly and raises IGF-1 signalling. It is hormone replacement or direct GH therapy, not a GH secretagogue. Brand-specific indications are not interchangeable.
From molecular target to clinical evidence
Tap each stage to see what happens.
Background: Clinical Peptide Medicines
Clinical peptide medicines include endocrine treatments, antimicrobial drugs, receptor blockers and targeted diagnostic or cancer agents. They do not share one mechanism or one set of indications.
An approval belongs to a specific medicine and indication. A diagnostic tracer, an antibiotic and a hormone are not interchangeable wellness products; read each profile's own mechanism and prescribing source.
Research Areas & Routes Studied
- Growth hormone deficiency
- Pediatric growth
- Product-specific HIV wasting research
- Approved injectable products
Evidence Summary
Extensive clinical evidence supports product-specific GH-deficiency and growth-disorder uses; selected brands have other defined indications.
Higher tiers carry more weight. Filled tiers have evidence for Somatropin (rhGH); tap to read it.
- Extensive clinical evidence supports product-specific GH-deficiency and growth-disorder uses; selected brands have other defined indications.
2 cited sources.
- Prescribing label2
Human clinical evidence
- Extensive clinical evidence supports product-specific GH-deficiency and growth-disorder uses; selected brands have other defined indications.
Reported Adverse Events in Research
- Glucose intolerance, edema, intracranial hypertension, slipped capital femoral epiphysis and malignancy precautions matter.
Limitations of Current Evidence
- It is hormone replacement or direct GH therapy, not a GH secretagogue. Brand-specific indications are not interchangeable.
- Findings apply to the product, route and population studied; they do not establish benefits or safety for unrelated wellness uses or research-vial products.
How to Read This Research
- Is this a single molecule or a family of medicines?
- Is the use diagnostic, therapeutic or investigational?
- Does the quoted outcome match the exact product, formulation and population?
- Use the compound-specific mechanism above; this diagram describes drug development, not a shared biological pathway.
- Historical approval, present availability and off-label use are distinct questions.
- For radiopharmaceuticals and hospital medicines, specialist handling is part of the treatment context.
- Indication
- The condition and population for which a medicine is approved.
- Antagonist
- A compound that blocks activity at a receptor.
- Radiopharmaceutical
- A medicine containing a radioactive isotope for imaging or treatment.
Compare With Other Compounds
| Somatropin (rhGH) | Trofinetide | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence grade | A — Strong Clinical Evidence | B — Moderate Human Evidence |
| Regulatory status | FDA Approved for Specific Indication | FDA Approved for Specific Indication |
| Human data | Yes | Yes |
| Clinical trials | Registered trials exist | Registered trials exist |
| Research routes | Approved injectable products | Oral approved medicine |
| Cited sources | 2 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Research References
- Prescribing label
Somatropin (rhGH) — prescribing label
- Prescribing label
SEROSTIM prescribing sources