Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD)

GHD is a rare but important cause of short stature in children.1 In more than 50% of cases the cause of the GHD is unknown.1 

Fortunately, GHD is treatable with a medication called recombinant human growth hormone or rhGH.1,2

rhGH is a complex biological medication made from living cells. It mimics what growth hormone would do in a human body.2,3 It was first approved for use in 1985 and has been shown to be safe and effective in children suffering from GHD.1,4 

The primary goal of rhGH treatment in GHD patients is to normalise height during childhood and adolescence and attain an adult height within the normal range4 In GH-deficient children, rhGH therapy also results in decreased body fat and increased fat-free mass, including muscle and bone mass.4 

Treatment is continued until target adult height is reached.1

Growth Hormone

The overall prognosis for the treatment of GHD in childhood is excellent, with the majority of children reaching a good height.1,4 Once treatment has commenced, monitoring by an experienced paediatric endocrinologist is required at 6 to 12 monthly intervals.1 

Because rhGH is a biologic (a complex medication made from living tissue) it is costly.3,2,3,4,5 This high cost can limit both affordability and access.3 

Biosimilars are ‘near perfect’ copies of biologic medicines.3 By law, to be approved for use, they have to produce the same clinical effect and have the same safety profile as the reference biologic medicine they copy.3 

Because biosimilars don’t need as much initial research, they can be produced at a lower cost than the original biologic medicine and are therefore important for improving access and affordability to biologic medicines.3 Biosimilar rhGH medication has been shown to be both safe and effective in the treatment of children with rhGH in real world clinical practice.6 

Sandoz is a pioneer in biosimilars and was the first company in the world to bring a biosimilar medication to market.7,8 Sandoz is dedicated to supporting endocrinology patients, parents and practitioners.8

References
1.

Dattani MT, Malhotra N. A Review of Growth Hormone Deficiency. Paediatrics and Child Health. 2019;29(7):285-292. doi:10.1016/j.paed.2019.04.001

2.

Ross MJ, Olson KC, Geier MD, et al. Recombinant DNA Synthesis of Human Growth Hormone. In: Raiti S, Tolman RA, eds. Human Growth Hormone. Springer US; 1986:241-256. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-7201-5_20

3.

Kabir ER, Moreino SS, Sharif Siam MK. The Breakthrough of Biosimilars: A Twist in the Narrative of Biological Therapy. Biomolecules. 2019;9(9):410. doi:10.3390/biom9090410

4.

Richmond E, Rogol AD. Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Children, Adolescents and at the Transitional Age. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2016;30(6):749-755. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2016.11.005

5.

Nickman NA, Haak SW, Kim J. Cost Minimization Analysis of Different Growth Hormone Pen Devices Based on Time-and-motion Simulations. BMC Nurs. 2010;9(1):6. doi:10.1186/1472-6955-9-6

6.

Pfäffle R, Bidlingmaier M, Kreitschmann-Andermahr I, et al. Horm Res Paediatr. 2020;93(3):154-163. doi:10.1159/000508190

7.

Sandoz. Unlock Their Potential – 15 Years of Biosimilars [Online]. Cited 28 Aug 2021. Available from: https://www.sandoz.com/unlock-their-potential-15-years-biosimilars

8.

Sandoz SA (Pty) Ltd. Data on File. Corporate Brochure. Jul 2017