Novo liquid hGH approved in Denmark

Novo Nordisk has won Danish approval for its new liquid formulation ofhuman growth hormone, Norditropin SimpleXx (somatropin). This is the first approval of the product and the first time that a liquid hGH product has been approved outside the USA, where Genentech's Nutropin AQ (somatropin) has been marketed since 1997). Norditropin SimpleXx will be launched together with a newly-developed pen injector, NordiPen. The Danish registration is expected to be followed by a formal European Union approval and launch in a number of EU countries during the remainder of 1999. Norditropin SimpleXx has also been filed in Japan, and an application in the USA is expected later this year.