Getting a human growth hormone therapy (HGH) treatment can be expensive. A recent study has shown that the cost of HGH therapy is expected to reach USD 8.5 billion by 2027. This cost is expected to rise because of the increased number of people that need HGH treatments to combat the effects of aging.
Cost-effectiveness ratio of HGH therapy
The cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) is a metric that describes the cost of a given medical treatment. It is calculated by dividing the incremental clinical benefit of the treatment by the incremental cost of the treatment.
In the field of hormone replacement therapy, the CER measures the effect that a specific treatment has on improving a patient’s health. Typically, CER calculations include the direct medical costs of a GH product, but it excludes the costs of any follow-up investigations.
A recent study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of somatropin for treating GH deficiency in children. They compared somatropin to no treatment, and used a range of metrics to assess the efficacy of hGH.
For example, researchers found that somatropin cost less than half the average US dollar per normal height gained. This means that for a typical child, the CER of somatropin is about $8900 per normal height gained.
Omnitrope
Omnitrope is a prescription medicine used to treat Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD). It is indicated for the treatment of growth failure in children with idiopathic short stature or growth failure caused by inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone. The drug is available in five and ten milligram vials.
This medicine is a recombinant form of human growth hormone. Omnitrope is produced by Sandoz.
Omnitrope is a polypeptide hormone which contains 191 amino acid residues. The medicine is a prescription medication that can be purchased at a cost of $300 per vial.
Omnitrope is administered through subcutaneous injection. A sterile, clear, colorless solution is injected. Injection sites should be rotated to avoid lipoatrophy.
Omnitrope is used to treat GH deficiency in children and adults. It may also be used to treat Turner syndrome, hypopituitarism and childhood GHD.
Genotropin
The cost of human growth hormone therapy can vary widely. Depending on the severity of the problem and the type of human growth hormone to be used, the cost of treatment can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month. As a rule of thumb, a male patient between the ages of 50 and 59 could expect to pay around $1,200 per month for a top of the line human growth treatments.
A similar scenario could be seen in a male athlete or bodybuilder. In some cases, the cost of a pharmaceutical HGH treatment can be as high as $1,500 per week. On the other hand, many unregulated HGH products are available at a fraction of their list price in the US and other countries.
ISS treatment costs
One of the many debates in pediatric endocrinology is whether growth hormone treatment is a worthwhile endeavor, particularly in this age of pennies for dollars. It is a fact that the benefits of rhGH do not last very long. In addition, a patient’s bone age may catch up with him or her, thereby rendering the treatment unproductive. As such, the cost of treating a child for the requisite time frame has to be factored into the total cost of care. Despite the myriad of studies demonstrating the efficacy of rhGH, the decision to use the magic bullet remains a tough one for physicians.
As with most endocrinology treatments, the rhGH cocktail isn’t for everyone. There are a number of pitfalls to avoid including mismanagement of serum levels and an unwary parent. Nonetheless, rhGH and ISS treatments have been shown to be safe and effective.
HGH market size expected to reach USD 8.5 billion by 2027
Several factors such as aging population, increased awareness about growth hormones, and increasing number of surgeries are driving the market. The growth of this market is also supported by various innovative therapies and the robust product pipeline. Moreover, increasing number of government initiatives are also supporting the market. However, the rising costs of hGH therapies may hamper the market’s progress over the forecast period. Nevertheless, the global human growth hormone market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.47% during the forecast period.
Major players operating in the human growth hormone market are involved in extensive research and development activities. Furthermore, they have focused on gaining approval in Asia Pacific and launching novel products. They are aiming to gain a strong market share in this region.