Sandoz launches new OMNITROPE growth hormone concentration in Egypt
The company stated that the newly available concentration aims to help expand access to growth hormone, noting that an estimated 17% of Egyptian children suffer from short stature. Research conducted at Suez Canal University's endocrinology outpatient clinic, released in 2024, indicated that growth hormone treatment significantly improves physical, social, psychological, and environmental quality of life.
Dr. Mona Salem, Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at Ain Shams University and President of the Egyptian Society of Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes, said: 'In children and adolescents, growth hormone is used to treat growth disturbance due to insufficient secretion of growth hormone, associated with Turner syndrome, with chronic renal insufficiency, in short children/adolescents born small for gestational age, or associated with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The biosynthetic/synthetic hormone is indicated for the treatment of children with growth failure due to inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone (GH).'
Dr. Salem added, 'Short stature is diagnosed in children or adolescents who are well below the average height for their age and gender, which may be due to genetic factors or underlying health conditions. Studies show that short stature prevalence varies geographically, with a genetic predisposition, as well as nutritional and environmental factors, playing an important role.'
A cross-sectional study conducted between January 2018 and January 2020 involving 33,150 Egyptian children aged 6 to 11 showed that 17% of the sample had short stature, with 40.8% attributed to familial factors and 24.2% to constitutional causes.
Dr. Rasha Tarif, Head of the Paediatric Endocrinology Unit at Ain Shams University and Chair of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) Education and Training Committee, stated: 'As noted, short stature affects children and adolescents, not only physically but also psychologically. Growth hormone is one of the most effective treatments for the aforementioned growth disturbances. The dosage is carefully calculated based on weight, underlying cause, puberty stage, as well as stimulated growth hormone test results, to achieve the best possible final height outcomes.'
Dr. Tarif emphasised that young patients require therapeutic intervention before growth plates fuse, after which height cannot be gained. She added, 'Growth hormone plays a critical role in effective treatment plans, but ensuring its availability has been a challenge in recent years. This challenge is being addressed through ongoing efforts to secure sufficient quantities to ensure uninterrupted treatment until puberty is complete, and in some cases, for life. Treatment continuity, along with proper follow-up with a specialized physician, is essential for achieving optimal results.'
Sandoz said the new concentration is being made available at an affordable cost, expanding treatment options and aiming for better patient response and an effective, safe treatment journey by minimising interruptions. The company stated that securing the reliable availability of this human growth hormone reinforces medical efforts to provide comprehensive care.
Sameh Elbagoury, Sandoz Egypt Country Head, said: 'The Egyptian government, within the context of the Egypt Vision 2030, has shown strong commitment to reducing the prevalence of short stature among children, aiming to improve public health for current and future generations, and help build a healthier, more productive workforce, in line with the national vision for sustainable development.'
Elbagoury added: 'Our top priority at Sandoz is to develop affordable biosimilars for high-quality biologics and ensure that as many patients as possible have access to them. Introducing the 15mg concentration of our well-established Omnitrope growth hormone allows us to help local authorities meet the increase in demand for growth hormones, reflecting the positive impact and notable success achieved by the Presidential Initiative for the Early Detection of Anaemia, Obesity and Short Stature.'
Sandoz Omnitrope received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency in 2006, with subsequent approvals in other countries. Sandoz has also established a long-term, post-marketing surveillance programme for the product.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
18 hours ago
- The National
Hunger claims more lives in Gaza and overwhelms exhausted medics
Five more people have died from hunger in Gaza, health authorities said on Monday, amid warnings that what's left of the medical sector can no longer carry the burden. Gaza's health authorities said 180 people have now died of starvation – 93 of them children – under Israel 's blockade of the coastal territory. It added that the total death toll of Israel's war now stands at 60,199. Gaza's medical and humanitarian situation has deteriorated drastically, with severe food shortages, soaring child malnutrition, and collapsing healthcare infrastructure. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of Al Shifa medical complex in Gaza city, said the situation has reached a breaking point. 'Every day, deaths due to malnutrition are being recorded in the Gaza Strip as a result of the deliberate starvation policy practised by the occupation,' Dr Abu Salmiya said. He warned that Gaza's health system can no longer carry the burden. 'We are overwhelmed,' he said. 'We cannot keep up with the number of patients suffering from hunger-related complications.' One starving Gazan, 75-year-old Salim Asfour, has lost more than half his body weight during months of food shortages. 'I can't go to collect aid. I can't even walk 10 metres,' he told The National. 'I have to lean on my son just to go to the bathroom. Even if I do manage to get there, how can I, a 75-year-old man, carry a bag of flour?" As the humanitarian situation worsens, international efforts have included air drops of food and aid supplies. The UAE carried out its 61st aid flight on Sunday, with the help of Jordan, France, Germany, Belgium and Italy. The UAE air drops 'aim to deliver essential humanitarian aid to areas that are difficult to access by land due to the ongoing field conditions', the state news agency Wam reported. The UAE has called for humanitarian assistance to reach those in need in Gaza 'through all available means'. Jordan's King Abdullah II last week described land crossings as 'the main and most effective means to provide sufficient aid, in addition to air drops'. On the ground, displaced families express growing despair at the humanitarian situation. Mohammed Abu Adghaem, a father of five currently in Al Naser, said the physically strong, or those with cars, are best-placed to get the food from air drops. The message from Gaza is unified and urgent: open the land crossings. 'The only real solution is opening the crossings and flooding the market with aid,' said Ismail Al Thawabta, director of the Government Media Office in Gaza. 'That aid must be distributed by organisations like UNRWA that know how to do it fairly, safely and with dignity.'
Gulf Business
a day ago
- Gulf Business
Important information: UAE's health ministry cuts services by half
Image credit: WAM/Website The Ministry of Health and Prevention ( Read- The initiative, launched to eliminate unnecessary complexity across federal services, seeks to create a more agile and responsive government through streamlined, digitised procedures. MoHAP's efforts have so far focused on licensing and accreditation services for healthcare professionals and facilities, reducing the total number of these services from 32 to just 16, The redesign has significantly cut processing times, improved operational workflows, and brought the ministry's work closer in alignment with the programme's overarching goals. Human-centric overhaul and digital integration Under the second phase of the initiative, MoHAP adopted a customer-centric roadmap focused on service simplicity and digital integration. Key features of the redesign included reducing documentation, eliminating redundant requirements, and consolidating digital platforms to decrease the number of smart applications used. The ministry also aimed to reduce the time, cost, and effort required by users while enhancing data interoperability with partner government entities. This has enabled smoother data exchange and quicker access to services for both citizens and professionals. To measure the effectiveness of the improvements, MoHAP conducted surveys and user experience studies. These assessments also recognised internal teams and proactive service users whose input contributed significantly to the improvements. These efforts support the programme's goal of achieving 100 per cent digital bureaucracy elimination, providing modern, efficient services and fully digitised systems. MoHAP reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the UAE's vision of a streamlined, responsive, and innovation-driven government that delivers tangible results. Leadership commends progress Dr. Mohammed Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, emphasised that the successful implementation of Phase II reflects the UAE leadership's dedication to providing efficient, high-quality public services. 'Our approach aligns with the government's flexible and forward-looking service model,' said Dr. Al Olama. 'It reinforces sustainable development, enhances the UAE's global competitiveness, and is grounded in innovation, digital tools, AI integration, and the empowerment of high-performing teams.' He added that the Ministry achieved significant progress across both phases of the programme by engaging stakeholders, internal teams, and wider society. 'We adopted a proactive strategy to redesign services, simplify procedures, and boost efficiency, making services more accessible and customer-friendly.' Dr Al Olama noted that the ministry's operational model now prioritises continuous improvement through regular measurement of user satisfaction and service effectiveness. Co-designing the future of government services Abdullah Ahli, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector and head of the Zero Government Bureaucracy Team at MoHAP, highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative. 'Our redesign efforts follow a co-design methodology, involving stakeholders from the healthcare sector and service users directly through workshops,' Ahli explained. 'By deeply analysing user experiences, we ensured the updated services are simpler, more cost-effective, and results-driven.' He emphasized the removal of unnecessary procedures to maximize user satisfaction and improve the overall service experience. Ahli also revealed that additional service packages are in development across other sectors, following successful testing and user feedback. These upcoming packages will focus on high-priority services and are expected to further accelerate progress toward national strategic goals, including sustainable development and enhanced quality of life. Phase II of the 'Zero Government Bureaucracy' programme aims for complete elimination of digital redundancy by removing outdated processes, consolidating smart applications, and modernising government digital infrastructure. The initiative also includes the integration of artificial intelligence and promotes a shift toward a results-oriented culture in public service delivery, further strengthening the UAE's international competitiveness.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Egypt's PM reviews efforts to support local pharmaceutical industry
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Sunday chaired a meeting to review efforts to support and develop the country's pharmaceutical industry, with the aim of boosting local manufacturing and attracting more foreign investment. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, the Minister of Finance, Ahmed Kouchouk, and the heads of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) and the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement (UPA). Madbouly affirmed the government's interest in providing all necessary support for the growth and localisation of this vital industry. He noted that Egypt has a long history in pharmaceuticals, with large industrial facilities, and possesses promising advantages for further progress, including a large domestic market and access to nearby regional markets. During the meeting, EDA Chairman Ali El-Ghamrawy presented a report on the state of the industry. He stated that the sector is nationally stable and has achieved significant jumps in local market sales in 2024 compared to 2023, with positive expectations for continued growth in 2025. El-Ghamrawy confirmed that there is a secure level of coverage for various therapeutic groups, including hormones, cardiovascular drugs, oncology products, and corticosteroids. He also assured that there is a safe strategic stock of pharmaceutical raw materials, sufficient for three to six months. The EDA chairman highlighted the growth of foreign companies in the Egyptian market, noting that their sales in 2024 saw a 43% increase compared to 2023. He attributed this progress to several measures taken by the EDA to attract international firms, including monitoring modern and innovative products, a reference-based registration process that reduces approval times from two years to as little as two months, a unified electronic registration system, and support for localisation projects. El-Ghamrawy also noted that the EDA provides about 979 essential regulatory services to support the pharmaceutical industry and has not increased the fees for these services in the past two years.
