Genentech and Ipsen enter human growth hormone collaboration

Genentech and Ipsen have executed a collaborative r&d agreement to develop sustained-release formulations of Genentech's recombinant human growth hormone [somatropin (rDNA origin)].

This supplements a previous agreement signed in 2002 whereby Ipsen gained exclusive rights to market NutropinAq Pen throughout Europe and the rest of the world, excluding North America and Japan. NutropinAq Pen, for use with the NutropinAq Pen cartridge, was cleared for marketing by the US Food and Drug Administration in April 2002 and obtained marketing authorization under the trade name NutropinAq Pen from the European Medicines Agency in March 2004. Ipsen has already launched NutropinAq Pen in 12 European countries.

NutropinAq [somatropin (rDNA origin) injection] is produced using recombinant DNA technology and has the same amino acid sequence as human growth hormone produced naturally in the human body. Supplied as 10 mg of sterile liquid somatropin per cartridge for exclusive use with the NutropinAq Pen, NutropinAq is approved for the treatment of GHD in children and adults, for the long-term treatment of short stature in children with Turner syndrome and the treatment of growth failure in chronic renal insufficiency patients prior to transplantation.

'Genentech has a 20 year heritage of exploring new product options for growth hormone delivery to patients,' said Joseph S. McCracken, Genentech's vice president of Business Development. 'We value our collaboration with Ipsen and their experience with novel sustained release technology.'