Novo Nordisk’s Long-Acting Growth Hormone, Norditropin® (Pasireotide Growth Hormone), to Be Fully Launched in China This Summer

ChengduJune 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Novo Nordisk, a global leader in biopharmaceuticals, today announced that its long-acting growth hormone injection, Norditropin^® (somapacitan), will be fully launched in China this summer, offering a once-weekly treatment option for Chinese pediatric patients aged 2.5 years and older with growth retardation due to insufficient endogenous growth hormone secretion.

As the world’s most prescribed^[1] international original long-acting growth hormone, somapacitan has been approved by the U.S. FDA since August 2020 and is now available in 12 countries globally^[2], with a market share of 63%^[1]. Norditropin^® was introduced as a clinically urgently needed drug at Boao Future Hospital in early 2025. This full launch in China marks the transition from “introduction” to “implementation,” bringing this globally leading innovative drug to benefit more Chinese pediatric patients.

Safety Upgrade: Innovative Mechanism with 0 PEG, Complete Metabolism with 0 Accumulation, Innovative Technology Reshaping Treatment Landscape

Building on Novo Nordisk’s more than three decades of continuous expertise in fatty acid acylation technology, Norditropin^® brings a renewed upgrade to the domestic long-acting growth hormone category. From the first addition of a fatty acid side chain to bovine insulin in 1989, to the approval of insulin detemir in 2004 as the first protein drug to utilize this technology to extend half-life, Novo Nordisk has successfully extended this core technology from insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists to the growth hormone field^[3-5].

Norditropin^® achieves non-covalent reversible binding of the growth hormone protein to endogenous albumin through fatty acid derivatization technology, balancing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. It extends the drug’s elimination time in the body while maintaining a molecular weight closest to natural growth hormone, with verified complete metabolism and excretion, allowing pediatric patients to reduce treatment burden more safely and with peace of mind.

Quality Upgrade: 13 Years of Clinical Exploration, 23 Major Chinese and International Clinical Studies, Confirming Long-Term Safety and Efficacy

The global Phase 3 clinical trial REAL4 study and the Chinese Phase 3 clinical trial REAL6 study have jointly validated the efficacy and safety of Norditropin^®[6-9].

Data from the REAL6 study in the Chinese population fully demonstrated the advantages of Norditropin^®: 110 treatment-naïve patients were randomly assigned to receive Norditropin^® (0.16 mg/kg/week) or a daily formulation (0.034 mg/kg/day). After 52 weeks of treatment, the mean height velocity (HV) in the Norditropin^® group reached 11.0 cm/year, with comparable mean annualized HV between the two groups, confirming that its efficacy is non-inferior to the classic daily formulation^[10].

Experience Upgrade: Pre-filled and Ready-to-Use for Easy Operation, 0 Reports of Injection Pain, Giving Children a Childhood Free from Needle Constraints

In addition to reducing injection frequency, Norditropin^® offers patients a pre-filled, ready-to-use, portable, and easy-to-operate injection device. This injection pen requires no cartridge assembly, no batteries or charging, and no drug reconstitution, reducing the risk of errors during preparation. Its safety profile is consistent with the known safety profile of daily formulations. Data from the Chinese Phase 3 clinical trial REAL6 study showed no reports of injection site pain during the 52-week treatment period, demonstrating exceptional quality^[10].

Dr. Yan Cai, Senior Vice President of Novo Nordisk and President of Novo Nordisk Greater China, stated: “Since entering China in 1994, Novo Nordisk has continuously deepened its full industry chain layout to better serve Chinese patients. To date, we have had 24 innovative drugs and 12 innovative injection devices approved for launch in China, covering diabetes, obesity, and rare diseases. While significantly reducing injection burden, Norditropin^® brings a comprehensive upgrade to growth hormone therapy across three dimensions: safety, quality, and treatment experience. Reducing injections from 365 to 52 per year is not just a decrease in numbers, but a leap in the quality of life for pediatric patients during treatment.”