Briefing Note: somatropin (Omnitrope)

SMC accepted Omnitrope®:

-as replacement therapy in adults with pronounced growth hormone deficiency

-for use in infants, children and adolescents with growth disturbance or Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) due to insufficient secretion of growth hormone; or growth disturbance associated with Turner syndrome, chronic renal insufficiency or in those born small for gestational age.

• Growth disturbance can be caused by a lack of the body’s natural growth hormone or due to some other condition.
• Omnitrope® is a form of human growth hormone given by injection to treat growth disturbance.
• Studies have shown that Omnitrope® is similar to, but not an exact copy of, somatropin (Genotropin®), another form of human growth hormone, and is as effective.
• Side effects of Omnitrope® are similar to those of Genotropin® and include hypothyroidism (a reduced level of thyroid hormone), eosinophilia (high levels of a type of white blood cell) and bleeding or bruising at the injection site.
• SMC accepted Omnitrope® for use in NHSScotland because it is value for money, costing less than some similar treatments.