Novo-Nordisk Norditropin launched Feb. 20; patent litigation with Genentech is ongoing.

Executive Summary

NOVO NORDITROPIN LAUNCH FEB. 20 FOR HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE INSUFFICIENCY brings the Novo Nordisk somatropin product to market without having settled underlying patent infringement issues. Norditropin was cleared by FDA in May 1995, but the launch has been delayed by patent litigation between Novo Nordisk and Genentech. The path to market was cleared for Novo when a D.C. appeals court granted a stay of a lower court's preliminary injunction against the Norditropin launch ("The Pink Sheet" Dec. 23, 1996, In Brief). Bio-Technology General's Bio-Tropin somatropin human growth hormone product is still held up by a preliminary injunction dating from April 1996 ("The Pink Sheet" April 15, 1996, T&G-3).