Facts

What is growth hormone therapy?

Growth hormone is a chemical messenger produced by the pituitary gland, which lies just beneath the brain. Growth hormone promotes growth during childhood and continues to play an important metabolic role throughout adulthood.
 

 
Growth hormone was first isolated and used in treatment in 1956, and its structure was first identified in 1972. However, until the mid-1980s, the only source of growth hormone was pituitary glands extracted from human cadavers.

Biosynthetic growth hormone was first manufactured using genetic engineering techniques in 1985. The biosynthetic growth hormone produced today is 100% identical to the natural growth hormone produced by the body and is used to treat many different conditions.