Overview

Evidence-based recommendations on human growth hormone (somatropin; Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, NutropinAq, Omnitrope, Saizen, Zomacton) for treating growth failure in children.

The recommendations also apply to somatropin biosimilar products that have a marketing authorisation allowing the use of the biosimilar for the same indication.

A minor correction was made to section 6.1 of the guidance in July 2010. This does not affect the funding direction, which applies from the original date of publication in May 2010.

Is this guidance up to date?

We reviewed the evidence in June 2022. We found nothing new that affects the recommendations in this guidance.

Next review: This guidance will be reviewed if there is new evidence.

Guidance development process

How we develop NICE technology appraisal guidance

This guidance replaces NICE technology appraisal guidance on human growth hormone for the treatment of growth failure in children (TA42).

Your responsibility

The recommendations in this guidance represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, health professionals are expected to take this guidance fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients. The application of the recommendations in this guidance is at the discretion of health professionals and their individual patients and do not override the responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or their carer or guardian.

All problems (adverse events) related to a medicine or medical device used for treatment or in a procedure should be reported to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency using the Yellow Card Scheme.

Commissioners and/or providers have a responsibility to provide the funding required to enable the guidance to be applied when individual health professionals and their patients wish to use it, in accordance with the NHS Constitution. They should do so in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to reduce health inequalities.

Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)