The sale of HGH or human growth hormone is considered as one of the largest market in the United States alone which is estimated at $1 billion according to biopharmaceutical industry. The market for HGH is expected to increase up to $16 billion in the US and Europe by 2011. Human growth hormones (HGH) have become popular as anti-ageing drugs aside from its use to treat growth-related deficiencies in children and adolescents. With the increasing market for HGH in Europe, US and Asia, pharmaceutical companies continue to improve their HGH products. These drugs are usually injected into the patient’s body so the quality of the product is the primary concern of its manufacturers.

Recently, Antares Pharma was able to get the approval of the FDA for its new needle free injection device for use with Tev-Tropin brand human growth hormone (hGH) from Teva. It will be marketed under the name Tev-Tropin Tjet Injector system. Teva is from Petach Tikva, Israel.

Based from its press release, the reusable needle free injector can deliver precise doses of HGH through high-speed, pressurized liquid penetration to the skin without a needle. The injector has a variable-dose mechanism which is engineered to last for a minimum of two years. It was also designed for easy use to facilitate self-injection with a disposable plastic needle-free syringe to assure safety and efficacy. Further, the device offers high precision liquid medication delivery through an opening that is approximately half the diameter of a standard, 30-gauge needle and it is designed to last for approximately one week. This injector which is sold under the brand Medi-Jector VISION® is being marketed by Antares Pharma in more than 30 countries to cater to the needs of patients for either insulin or human growth hormone (hGH).

According to Antares president and CEO Paul K. Wotton, the needle free injection system is the first product approval stemming from their portfolio of product collaborations with Teva and is a very exciting milestone for the company. “Importantly, it is another example of delivering on our strong focus and commitment to patients, together with our partners, to provide new ways to administer drugs. We look forward to the launch of this product by Teva,” he said.

Mylan, Teva’s competitor also signed a collaboration agreement with Indian company Biocon Ltd. to develop and market generic biologic compounds. According to analysts, the entry of Biocon is not considered as threat to Teva.

Meanwhile, Ranbaxy Laboratories of India is also planning to develop a new growth hormone product to target the emerging global market for new versions of patent-expired biotech drugs. They will tie up with unnamed manufacturer of injection device for its HGH products which according to sources can be launch in the market within 2 to 3 years.

Currently, the big names in the pharmaceuticals industry like Pfizer, Merck Serono, Eli Lily, Novo Nordisk and Sandoz still dominates the HGH market. However the expiration of some patents of these companies opened the market for generic manufacturing companies to enter into the market.

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