hgh
updated
Growth hormone treats diagnosed deficiency and certain growth disorders. In healthy adults, studies show increased lean mass and reduced fat, with little consistent improvement in strength or aerobic fitness.
Somatropin and distinct long-acting growth hormone products
- Biologic prescription medicine
- Daily somatropin and weekly products are distinct
- Replacement and enhancement have different evidence
Is the question about diagnosed deficiency or enhancement?
In diagnosed growth hormone deficiency, replacement aims to restore deficient signaling and is monitored against growth, symptoms, body composition, IGF-1, and safety. Healthy adults start from a different baseline, with weaker evidence for anti-aging or performance benefit and documented adverse effects.
A low age-adjusted IGF-1 value alone is not the same as a complete diagnosis. Product labels place treatment under clinicians experienced in identifying and managing the relevant deficiency or growth disorder.
Genotropin label · daily somatropin
FDA prescribing information
Pfizer. Genotropin prescribing information.
Defines Genotropin as somatropin for product-specific adult and pediatric indications and documents malignancy, glucose, intracranial-hypertension, fluid, endocrine, orthopedic, pancreatic, and respiratory warnings.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and pediatric patients in the product's labeled growth-disorder populations
- Treatment
- Daily subcutaneous somatropin sold as Genotropin
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Other somatropin brands can have different devices, concentrations, excipients, and indications.
Read the original sourceSogroya label · weekly somapacitan
FDA prescribing information
Novo Nordisk. Sogroya prescribing information, revised February 2026.
Identifies somapacitan-beco as a weekly GH analog for adult GHD and specified pediatric growth disorders from age 2.5 years, with product-specific contraindications and monitoring.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and specified pediatric growth-disorder populations age 2.5 years and older
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somapacitan-beco injection
- Follow-up
- Label updated February 25, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Its expanded pediatric indications do not transfer to other long-acting GH products.
Read the original sourceSkytrofa label · weekly lonapegsomatropin
FDA prescribing information
Ascendis Pharma. Skytrofa prescribing information, revised September 2025.
Identifies lonapegsomatropin-tcgd as a once-weekly GH prodrug for adult GHD and pediatric GHD from age 1 year and at least 11.5 kg.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD; pediatric GHD age 1 year and older who meet the labeled weight criterion
- Treatment
- Once-weekly lonapegsomatropin-tcgd injection
- Follow-up
- Current DailyMed record updated September 2025
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
The product releases somatropin but has its own device, exposure, and clinical record.
Read the original sourceNgenla label · weekly somatrogon
FDA prescribing information
Pfizer. Ngenla prescribing information, updated August 2026.
Identifies somatrogon-ghla as a once-weekly GH analog for pediatric patients age 3 years and older with growth failure from inadequate endogenous GH; the supporting trial enrolled 224 prepubertal children.
- Participants / model
- Pediatric patients age 3 years and older with growth failure from inadequate endogenous GH
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somatrogon-ghla injection
- Follow-up
- DailyMed record effective August 14, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Ngenla is not labeled in the United States for adult GHD or the broader pediatric indications carried by some other products.
Read the original sourceAre daily somatropin and the weekly products interchangeable?
No. Somatropin is recombinant human growth hormone. Somapacitan-beco and somatrogon-ghla are long-acting GH analogs, while lonapegsomatropin-tcgd is a long-acting prodrug that releases somatropin. Their indications, devices, pharmacokinetics, and monitoring instructions are product specific.
| Product | Active ingredient | Interval and labeled population |
|---|---|---|
| Genotropin | Somatropin | Daily; adult GHD and several named pediatric growth disorders |
| Sogroya | Somapacitan-beco | Weekly; adult GHD and several named pediatric growth disorders from age 2.5 years |
| Skytrofa | Lonapegsomatropin-tcgd | Weekly; adult GHD and pediatric GHD from age 1 year with a minimum labeled weight |
| Ngenla | Somatrogon-ghla | Weekly; pediatric GHD from age 3 years |
Serostim for HIV-associated wasting and Zorbtive for short bowel syndrome are further examples of somatropin products with indication-specific doses, devices, monitoring, and safety instructions.
Genotropin label · daily somatropin
FDA prescribing information
Pfizer. Genotropin prescribing information.
Defines Genotropin as somatropin for product-specific adult and pediatric indications and documents malignancy, glucose, intracranial-hypertension, fluid, endocrine, orthopedic, pancreatic, and respiratory warnings.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and pediatric patients in the product's labeled growth-disorder populations
- Treatment
- Daily subcutaneous somatropin sold as Genotropin
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Other somatropin brands can have different devices, concentrations, excipients, and indications.
Read the original sourceSogroya label · weekly somapacitan
FDA prescribing information
Novo Nordisk. Sogroya prescribing information, revised February 2026.
Identifies somapacitan-beco as a weekly GH analog for adult GHD and specified pediatric growth disorders from age 2.5 years, with product-specific contraindications and monitoring.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and specified pediatric growth-disorder populations age 2.5 years and older
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somapacitan-beco injection
- Follow-up
- Label updated February 25, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Its expanded pediatric indications do not transfer to other long-acting GH products.
Read the original sourceSkytrofa label · weekly lonapegsomatropin
FDA prescribing information
Ascendis Pharma. Skytrofa prescribing information, revised September 2025.
Identifies lonapegsomatropin-tcgd as a once-weekly GH prodrug for adult GHD and pediatric GHD from age 1 year and at least 11.5 kg.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD; pediatric GHD age 1 year and older who meet the labeled weight criterion
- Treatment
- Once-weekly lonapegsomatropin-tcgd injection
- Follow-up
- Current DailyMed record updated September 2025
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
The product releases somatropin but has its own device, exposure, and clinical record.
Read the original sourceNgenla label · weekly somatrogon
FDA prescribing information
Pfizer. Ngenla prescribing information, updated August 2026.
Identifies somatrogon-ghla as a once-weekly GH analog for pediatric patients age 3 years and older with growth failure from inadequate endogenous GH; the supporting trial enrolled 224 prepubertal children.
- Participants / model
- Pediatric patients age 3 years and older with growth failure from inadequate endogenous GH
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somatrogon-ghla injection
- Follow-up
- DailyMed record effective August 14, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Ngenla is not labeled in the United States for adult GHD or the broader pediatric indications carried by some other products.
Read the original sourceWhat changes in adults with confirmed growth hormone deficiency?
A meta-analysis of 22 placebo-controlled trials in adults with growth hormone deficiency found mean lean mass rose 2.61 kg with GH versus 0.04 kg with placebo, while fat mass changed -2.19 kg versus +0.31 kg over six months. This is replacement evidence in deficient adults.
The analysis also found lower total and LDL cholesterol. Higher study exposure changed body composition more, but product labels still individualize treatment and monitoring rather than defining one class-wide dose.
22 trials · deficient adults
Meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized trials
Newman CB et al. Pituitary, 2015.
Across 22 six-month trials, mean lean mass increased 2.61 kg with GH versus 0.04 kg with placebo, while fat mass fell 2.19 kg versus a 0.31 kg gain with placebo.
- Participants / model
- Adults with confirmed growth hormone deficiency
- Treatment
- Lower- or higher-dose GH replacement versus placebo
- Follow-up
- Six months
- Study design
- Meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials
- Funding
- Authors reported research support outside the United States
Replacement-population results cannot be transferred to healthy enhancement use.
Read the original sourceWhy did the famous older-men study not prove anti-aging?
The 1990 Rudman study treated only 12 older men and used 9 untreated men as a comparison. After six months, lean mass increased 8.8% and adipose mass fell 14.4%, but the study did not measure longer life, disability prevention, cognition, or a broad anti-aging outcome.
A later systematic review covered 31 articles from 18 small healthy-elderly populations. It found modest body-composition changes, no significant body-weight change, and more edema, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and gynecomastia. The authors did not recommend GH as anti-aging therapy.
Rudman 1990 · small body-composition study
Small controlled clinical study
Rudman D et al. New England Journal of Medicine, 1990.
Twelve treated men age 61 to 81 had an 8.8% lean-mass increase and 14.4% adipose-mass decrease over six months; nine men received no treatment.
- Participants / model
- 21 healthy older men selected for low IGF-1, with 12 treated and 9 untreated
- Treatment
- Biosynthetic human GH in the treated group
- Follow-up
- Six-month baseline and six-month treatment periods
- Study design
- Small nonrandomized treated-versus-untreated study
It measured body composition and selected tissue outcomes, not lifespan, cognition, disability, or a validated anti-aging endpoint.
Read the original sourceSystematic review · anti-aging claim
Systematic review of randomized trials
Liu H et al. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007.
Across 18 small healthy-elderly study populations, GH modestly changed fat and lean mass without changing body weight and increased edema, arthralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and gynecomastia.
- Participants / model
- Community-dwelling adults with mean age at least 50, without a specific illness being treated
- Treatment
- Growth hormone versus no growth hormone, sometimes alongside matched lifestyle interventions
- Follow-up
- At least two weeks; mean 27 weeks across included studies
- Study design
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Only 220 GH-treated participants completed the studies; many outcomes were measured inconsistently.
Read the original sourceDoes more lean mass improve strength or aerobic performance?
Not reliably in healthy young adults. A meta-analysis of 11 placebo-controlled studies with 254 participants found more lean mass and less fat mass, but no improvement in muscle strength or maximum oxygen uptake over weeks to months.
Lean mass includes water and other non-fat tissue. One study measured an increase in anaerobic capacity, but the broader trials did not show improved strength or maximum oxygen uptake.
11-study meta-analysis · performance
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Hermansen K et al. Growth Hormone and IGF Research, 2017.
Across 11 placebo-controlled studies with 254 healthy young adults, GH increased lean mass and reduced fat mass but did not improve muscle strength or maximum oxygen uptake.
- Participants / model
- Healthy young adults
- Treatment
- Growth hormone or placebo
- Follow-up
- Weeks to months across included trials
- Study design
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials
The only study measuring anaerobic capacity found an increase, while the broader trials did not show improved strength or maximum oxygen uptake.
Read the original sourceWhat does a weekly product improve, and what does it not prove?
Weekly products reduce injection frequency, but each must prove efficacy and safety in its own labeled population. For example, Ngenla's label is supported by a 52-week active-controlled study in 224 treatment-naive prepubertal children with GHD, while Skytrofa and Sogroya have their own separate adult and pediatric programs.
Convenience does not establish anti-aging benefit. It also does not mean a weekly analog or prodrug can be swapped milligram for milligram with daily somatropin.
Sogroya label · weekly somapacitan
FDA prescribing information
Novo Nordisk. Sogroya prescribing information, revised February 2026.
Identifies somapacitan-beco as a weekly GH analog for adult GHD and specified pediatric growth disorders from age 2.5 years, with product-specific contraindications and monitoring.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and specified pediatric growth-disorder populations age 2.5 years and older
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somapacitan-beco injection
- Follow-up
- Label updated February 25, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Its expanded pediatric indications do not transfer to other long-acting GH products.
Read the original sourceSkytrofa label · weekly lonapegsomatropin
FDA prescribing information
Ascendis Pharma. Skytrofa prescribing information, revised September 2025.
Identifies lonapegsomatropin-tcgd as a once-weekly GH prodrug for adult GHD and pediatric GHD from age 1 year and at least 11.5 kg.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD; pediatric GHD age 1 year and older who meet the labeled weight criterion
- Treatment
- Once-weekly lonapegsomatropin-tcgd injection
- Follow-up
- Current DailyMed record updated September 2025
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
The product releases somatropin but has its own device, exposure, and clinical record.
Read the original sourceNgenla label · weekly somatrogon
FDA prescribing information
Pfizer. Ngenla prescribing information, updated August 2026.
Identifies somatrogon-ghla as a once-weekly GH analog for pediatric patients age 3 years and older with growth failure from inadequate endogenous GH; the supporting trial enrolled 224 prepubertal children.
- Participants / model
- Pediatric patients age 3 years and older with growth failure from inadequate endogenous GH
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somatrogon-ghla injection
- Follow-up
- DailyMed record effective August 14, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Ngenla is not labeled in the United States for adult GHD or the broader pediatric indications carried by some other products.
Read the original sourceWhich growth hormone risks matter in real treatment?
Current labels warn about glucose intolerance or diabetes, intracranial hypertension, fluid retention, carpal tunnel symptoms, joint and muscle pain, active malignancy, progression of scoliosis, slipped capital femoral epiphysis in growing children, pancreatitis, and thyroid or adrenal treatment interactions.
- Swelling and a rise in lean mass can partly reflect fluid, so scale or DXA changes need clinical context.
- A limp or persistent hip or knee pain in a growing child is a label-level warning sign for slipped capital femoral epiphysis.
- Active malignancy is a contraindication; childhood cancer survivors who had head radiation have special second-neoplasm monitoring language.
- Severe obesity, airway obstruction, sleep apnea, or respiratory infection creates a specific sudden-death warning in pediatric Prader-Willi syndrome contexts.
Genotropin label · daily somatropin
FDA prescribing information
Pfizer. Genotropin prescribing information.
Defines Genotropin as somatropin for product-specific adult and pediatric indications and documents malignancy, glucose, intracranial-hypertension, fluid, endocrine, orthopedic, pancreatic, and respiratory warnings.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and pediatric patients in the product's labeled growth-disorder populations
- Treatment
- Daily subcutaneous somatropin sold as Genotropin
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Other somatropin brands can have different devices, concentrations, excipients, and indications.
Read the original sourceSogroya label · weekly somapacitan
FDA prescribing information
Novo Nordisk. Sogroya prescribing information, revised February 2026.
Identifies somapacitan-beco as a weekly GH analog for adult GHD and specified pediatric growth disorders from age 2.5 years, with product-specific contraindications and monitoring.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and specified pediatric growth-disorder populations age 2.5 years and older
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somapacitan-beco injection
- Follow-up
- Label updated February 25, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Its expanded pediatric indications do not transfer to other long-acting GH products.
Read the original sourceSkytrofa label · weekly lonapegsomatropin
FDA prescribing information
Ascendis Pharma. Skytrofa prescribing information, revised September 2025.
Identifies lonapegsomatropin-tcgd as a once-weekly GH prodrug for adult GHD and pediatric GHD from age 1 year and at least 11.5 kg.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD; pediatric GHD age 1 year and older who meet the labeled weight criterion
- Treatment
- Once-weekly lonapegsomatropin-tcgd injection
- Follow-up
- Current DailyMed record updated September 2025
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
The product releases somatropin but has its own device, exposure, and clinical record.
Read the original sourceNgenla label · weekly somatrogon
FDA prescribing information
Pfizer. Ngenla prescribing information, updated August 2026.
Identifies somatrogon-ghla as a once-weekly GH analog for pediatric patients age 3 years and older with growth failure from inadequate endogenous GH; the supporting trial enrolled 224 prepubertal children.
- Participants / model
- Pediatric patients age 3 years and older with growth failure from inadequate endogenous GH
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somatrogon-ghla injection
- Follow-up
- DailyMed record effective August 14, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Ngenla is not labeled in the United States for adult GHD or the broader pediatric indications carried by some other products.
Read the original sourceIs growth hormone allowed in tested sport or ordinary enhancement sales?
The 2026 WADA list prohibits growth hormone, its analogs, and named long-acting products at all times in covered sport. US law also gives hGH a special distribution rule: knowingly distributing or possessing it with intent to distribute for a non-authorized use can trigger the penalty in 21 U.S.C. 333(e).
A medical prescription and a therapeutic-use exemption are different systems. The statute governs distribution and intent; applying it to a person depends on the facts and jurisdiction.
WADA 2026 · GH prohibited at all times
International sport rule
World Anti-Doping Agency. 2026 Prohibited List, effective January 1, 2026.
Section S2 prohibits growth hormone, growth hormone analogs including lonapegsomatropin, somapacitan and somatrogon, and related releasing factors at all times in covered sport.
- Participants / model
- Athletes covered by the World Anti-Doping Code
- Treatment
- Growth hormone and named related substances
- Follow-up
- Effective January 1, 2026
- Study design
- Governing prohibited-substance list
Therapeutic-use-exemption rules are separate and sport specific.
Read the original sourceUS Code · hGH distribution penalty
Federal statute
United States Code, Title 21, section 333(e).
The statute creates a specific penalty for knowingly distributing or possessing with intent to distribute human growth hormone for a use not authorized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, subject to the statute's wording and exceptions.
- Participants / model
- Conduct within the scope of US federal law
- Treatment
- Human growth hormone distribution or possession with intent to distribute
- Study design
- Statutory text
The statute does not determine any person's facts or jurisdiction.
Read the original sourceWhat is the difference between replacing GH and stimulating its release?
Somatropin and the long-acting products activate the growth hormone receptor directly, increasing hepatic and tissue IGF-1 signaling and affecting growth, body composition, glucose, and fluid balance. GHRH analogs such as tesamorelin act upstream by asking the pituitary to release endogenous GH.
Upstream stimulation does not establish greater safety or efficacy. Each product requires human outcome and safety data.
Genotropin label · daily somatropin
FDA prescribing information
Pfizer. Genotropin prescribing information.
Defines Genotropin as somatropin for product-specific adult and pediatric indications and documents malignancy, glucose, intracranial-hypertension, fluid, endocrine, orthopedic, pancreatic, and respiratory warnings.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and pediatric patients in the product's labeled growth-disorder populations
- Treatment
- Daily subcutaneous somatropin sold as Genotropin
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Other somatropin brands can have different devices, concentrations, excipients, and indications.
Read the original sourceSogroya label · weekly somapacitan
FDA prescribing information
Novo Nordisk. Sogroya prescribing information, revised February 2026.
Identifies somapacitan-beco as a weekly GH analog for adult GHD and specified pediatric growth disorders from age 2.5 years, with product-specific contraindications and monitoring.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and specified pediatric growth-disorder populations age 2.5 years and older
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somapacitan-beco injection
- Follow-up
- Label updated February 25, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Its expanded pediatric indications do not transfer to other long-acting GH products.
Read the original sourceStudies and sources
Genotropin label · daily somatropin
FDA prescribing information
Pfizer. Genotropin prescribing information.
Defines Genotropin as somatropin for product-specific adult and pediatric indications and documents malignancy, glucose, intracranial-hypertension, fluid, endocrine, orthopedic, pancreatic, and respiratory warnings.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and pediatric patients in the product's labeled growth-disorder populations
- Treatment
- Daily subcutaneous somatropin sold as Genotropin
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Other somatropin brands can have different devices, concentrations, excipients, and indications.
Read the original sourceSogroya label · weekly somapacitan
FDA prescribing information
Novo Nordisk. Sogroya prescribing information, revised February 2026.
Identifies somapacitan-beco as a weekly GH analog for adult GHD and specified pediatric growth disorders from age 2.5 years, with product-specific contraindications and monitoring.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD and specified pediatric growth-disorder populations age 2.5 years and older
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somapacitan-beco injection
- Follow-up
- Label updated February 25, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Its expanded pediatric indications do not transfer to other long-acting GH products.
Read the original sourceSkytrofa label · weekly lonapegsomatropin
FDA prescribing information
Ascendis Pharma. Skytrofa prescribing information, revised September 2025.
Identifies lonapegsomatropin-tcgd as a once-weekly GH prodrug for adult GHD and pediatric GHD from age 1 year and at least 11.5 kg.
- Participants / model
- Adults with GHD; pediatric GHD age 1 year and older who meet the labeled weight criterion
- Treatment
- Once-weekly lonapegsomatropin-tcgd injection
- Follow-up
- Current DailyMed record updated September 2025
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
The product releases somatropin but has its own device, exposure, and clinical record.
Read the original sourceNgenla label · weekly somatrogon
FDA prescribing information
Pfizer. Ngenla prescribing information, updated August 2026.
Identifies somatrogon-ghla as a once-weekly GH analog for pediatric patients age 3 years and older with growth failure from inadequate endogenous GH; the supporting trial enrolled 224 prepubertal children.
- Participants / model
- Pediatric patients age 3 years and older with growth failure from inadequate endogenous GH
- Treatment
- Once-weekly somatrogon-ghla injection
- Follow-up
- DailyMed record effective August 14, 2026
- Study design
- Regulatory prescribing information
Ngenla is not labeled in the United States for adult GHD or the broader pediatric indications carried by some other products.
Read the original source22 trials · deficient adults
Meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized trials
Newman CB et al. Pituitary, 2015.
Across 22 six-month trials, mean lean mass increased 2.61 kg with GH versus 0.04 kg with placebo, while fat mass fell 2.19 kg versus a 0.31 kg gain with placebo.
- Participants / model
- Adults with confirmed growth hormone deficiency
- Treatment
- Lower- or higher-dose GH replacement versus placebo
- Follow-up
- Six months
- Study design
- Meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials
- Funding
- Authors reported research support outside the United States
Replacement-population results cannot be transferred to healthy enhancement use.
Read the original sourceRudman 1990 · small body-composition study
Small controlled clinical study
Rudman D et al. New England Journal of Medicine, 1990.
Twelve treated men age 61 to 81 had an 8.8% lean-mass increase and 14.4% adipose-mass decrease over six months; nine men received no treatment.
- Participants / model
- 21 healthy older men selected for low IGF-1, with 12 treated and 9 untreated
- Treatment
- Biosynthetic human GH in the treated group
- Follow-up
- Six-month baseline and six-month treatment periods
- Study design
- Small nonrandomized treated-versus-untreated study
It measured body composition and selected tissue outcomes, not lifespan, cognition, disability, or a validated anti-aging endpoint.
Read the original sourceSystematic review · anti-aging claim
Systematic review of randomized trials
Liu H et al. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007.
Across 18 small healthy-elderly study populations, GH modestly changed fat and lean mass without changing body weight and increased edema, arthralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and gynecomastia.
- Participants / model
- Community-dwelling adults with mean age at least 50, without a specific illness being treated
- Treatment
- Growth hormone versus no growth hormone, sometimes alongside matched lifestyle interventions
- Follow-up
- At least two weeks; mean 27 weeks across included studies
- Study design
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Only 220 GH-treated participants completed the studies; many outcomes were measured inconsistently.
Read the original source11-study meta-analysis · performance
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Hermansen K et al. Growth Hormone and IGF Research, 2017.
Across 11 placebo-controlled studies with 254 healthy young adults, GH increased lean mass and reduced fat mass but did not improve muscle strength or maximum oxygen uptake.
- Participants / model
- Healthy young adults
- Treatment
- Growth hormone or placebo
- Follow-up
- Weeks to months across included trials
- Study design
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials
The only study measuring anaerobic capacity found an increase, while the broader trials did not show improved strength or maximum oxygen uptake.
Read the original sourceWADA 2026 · GH prohibited at all times
International sport rule
World Anti-Doping Agency. 2026 Prohibited List, effective January 1, 2026.
Section S2 prohibits growth hormone, growth hormone analogs including lonapegsomatropin, somapacitan and somatrogon, and related releasing factors at all times in covered sport.
- Participants / model
- Athletes covered by the World Anti-Doping Code
- Treatment
- Growth hormone and named related substances
- Follow-up
- Effective January 1, 2026
- Study design
- Governing prohibited-substance list
Therapeutic-use-exemption rules are separate and sport specific.
Read the original sourceUS Code · hGH distribution penalty
Federal statute
United States Code, Title 21, section 333(e).
The statute creates a specific penalty for knowingly distributing or possessing with intent to distribute human growth hormone for a use not authorized by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, subject to the statute's wording and exceptions.
- Participants / model
- Conduct within the scope of US federal law
- Treatment
- Human growth hormone distribution or possession with intent to distribute
- Study design
- Statutory text
The statute does not determine any person's facts or jurisdiction.
Read the original sourceWhy is hgh in S tier?
Decades of clinical evidence and approved replacement uses support the S tier. Evidence for anti-aging and performance benefits in healthy adults is much weaker. Daily somatropin and weekly growth hormone products have distinct indications and pharmacology.
read hGH in the reptides guide, chapter 14: 14 pages, free to read.