Market filling up with hGH products

The FDA's approval last week of Bio-Technology General Corp.'s Bio-Tropin human growth hormone, coming on the heels of the agency's approval of Novo Nordisk A/S's Norditropin hGH, marks an end to the 10-year period of market exclusivity for Eli Lilly and Genentech Inc.

Two other products are awaiting market entry: Pharmacia AB's Genotropin will hit the market after June 30, under an agreement between Pharmacia and GNE which allows the Uppsala, Sweden, company to sell Genotropin in the U.S. and GNE to sell its hGH in Europe. Ares Serono Group's Saizen is still awaiting approval...