Saizen Is a Prescription Growth Hormone Used to Treat Growth Hormone Deficiency in Children and Adults

If you or your child has been diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), you may have heard of Saizen. It's one of several brand-name growth hormone medications available in the United States, and understanding what it is, how it works, and what to expect can help you feel more prepared as you start treatment.

What Is Saizen?

Saizen is a brand-name prescription medication containing Somatropin, a recombinant (lab-made) human growth hormone. It's manufactured by EMD Serono, a business of Merck KGaA based in Darmstadt, Germany.

Somatropin is identical to the dominant form of growth hormone naturally produced by the pituitary gland. It has 191 amino acid residues and works the same way as your body's own growth hormone.

Key Facts

• Brand name: Saizen
• Generic name: Somatropin (rDNA origin)
• Drug class: Recombinant Human Growth Hormone (rhGH)
• Manufacturer: EMD Serono
• Controlled substance: No (but requires a prescription)
• Generic available: No true generic. Omnitrope (Sandoz) is an approved biosimilar

What Is Saizen Used For?

Saizen is FDA-approved for the following conditions:

In Children

• Growth failure due to inadequate growth hormone secretion — Children whose bodies don't produce enough growth hormone on their own, resulting in slower-than-normal growth

In Adults

• Adult-onset growth hormone deficiency — Caused by pituitary disease, hypothalamic disease, surgery, radiation therapy, or trauma
• Childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency — Adults who had GHD as children due to congenital, genetic, acquired, or idiopathic causes and have been retested and confirmed as GH-deficient in adulthood

In adults, growth hormone deficiency can cause symptoms like increased body fat (especially around the waist), reduced muscle mass, low energy, decreased bone density, and poor quality of life. Saizen helps address these symptoms.

For more about how Saizen works in your body, read our article on Saizen's mechanism of action explained in plain English.

How Is Saizen Taken?

Saizen is given as a subcutaneous injection (a shot just under the skin). It's not available as a pill or liquid you drink.

Dosage Forms

Saizen comes in several formulations:

• 5 mg vial — Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder that you reconstitute with bacteriostatic water
• 8.8 mg vial — Same powder format, higher strength
• 8.8 mg click.easy device — A reconstitution device that simplifies the mixing process
• 8.8 mg with Saizenprep device — Another reconstitution system

Typical Doses

For children: 0.18 mg/kg per week, divided into equal doses given on 3 alternate days, 6 times per week, or daily.

For adults (weight-based): Starting dose of 0.005 mg/kg/day, which may be increased to 0.01 mg/kg/day based on response.

For adults (non-weight-based): Starting dose of approximately 0.2 mg/day (range 0.15–0.30 mg/day), increased by 0.1–0.2 mg/day every 1–2 months based on lab results and response.

How to Inject

Most patients self-inject at home after training from their healthcare provider. The process involves:

1. Reconstituting the powder with bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol preserved)
2. Drawing up the correct dose
3. Injecting subcutaneously into the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm
4. Rotating injection sites to prevent tissue damage

Store reconstituted Saizen in the refrigerator and use within the timeframe your pharmacist specifies.

Who Should Not Take Saizen?

Saizen is not appropriate for everyone. It's contraindicated in people with:

• Active cancer (active malignancy)
• Known allergy to Somatropin or any ingredients in Saizen
• Acute critical illness from complications of open heart surgery, abdominal surgery, or multiple trauma
• Acute respiratory failure
• Closed epiphyses (for children — meaning their growth plates have already fused)
• Active diabetic retinopathy (proliferative or severe non-proliferative)
• Active or recurring brain tumors
• Prader-Willi syndrome with severe obesity, sleep apnea, or respiratory problems

Neonates should not receive Saizen reconstituted with bacteriostatic water containing benzyl alcohol. Sterile water for injection should be used instead.

For a full list of side effects, read our guide on Saizen side effects and when to call your doctor.

How Much Does Saizen Cost?

Saizen is an expensive medication, which is true of all brand-name growth hormone products.

Cash Prices

• Saizen 5 mg vial: approximately $737–$900
• Saizen 8.8 mg vial: approximately $1,150–$1,500
• Monthly cost: $800–$3,000+ depending on your dose

With Coupons

GoodRx coupons may reduce prices to around $287 at some pharmacies.

Insurance Coverage

Most insurance plans cover growth hormone therapy but require prior authorization. You'll typically need documented proof of growth hormone deficiency through stimulation testing. Some plans use step therapy, meaning they may require you to try a preferred brand (like Norditropin or Omnitrope) before covering Saizen.

Specialty pharmacy dispensing is usually required, meaning your regular pharmacy may not be able to fill it.

Saving Money

EMD Serono offers co-pay assistance for commercially insured patients, and patient assistance programs are available for uninsured or underinsured patients. Prescription Hope offers Saizen for $70/month through their patient assistance program.

For a complete breakdown of savings options, check out our guide on how to save money on Saizen.

How Does Saizen Compare to Other Growth Hormones?

Saizen is one of several brand-name Somatropin products. The main alternatives include:

• Norditropin FlexPro (Novo Nordisk) — Pre-filled pen, no reconstitution needed. Often preferred by insurers.
• Genotropin (Pfizer) — Available in GoQuick pens and Miniquick single-use devices.
• Omnitrope (Sandoz) — A biosimilar with generally lower cost, available in vials and pens.
• Humatrope (Eli Lilly) — Available in vials and HumatroPen cartridges.

All contain the same active ingredient (Somatropin) but differ in delivery devices, reconstitution requirements, and cost. If you're having trouble finding Saizen, these alternatives may be worth discussing with your doctor.

Final Thoughts

Saizen is a well-established growth hormone therapy that's been helping children and adults with GHD for decades. It requires a prescription, proper diagnosis through stimulation testing, and ongoing monitoring by an endocrinologist.

The biggest challenges patients face are usually cost and access — not the medication itself. If you need help finding Saizen in stock or comparing pharmacy prices, Medfinder can help you find a pharmacy that has it available.