HGH (Somatropin · Human Growth Hormone)
Recombinant human growth hormone · heavily regulated biological
Overview
Human Growth Hormone (Somatropin) is a recombinant 191-amino-acid protein hormone biological product produced primarily by E. coli or mammalian expression systems. The 22 kDa protein corresponds in primary sequence to native pituitary-derived human growth hormone, and the recombinant form has fully replaced cadaver-derived material in approved therapeutics since the late 1980s after the cadaver-derived product was withdrawn due to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease transmission. HGH is regulated as a prescription drug (approved finished products including Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, Saizen, Omnitrope, and several biosimilars) in essentially all major jurisdictions and is one of the most strictly controlled peptide biologicals globally. Lyochem supplies recombinant HGH (Somatropin) in lyophilized vials at ≥99.0% HPLC purity, distributed only to qualified buyers with appropriate import and dispensing licensing in the destination jurisdiction. The 191-residue protein requires biological-product analytical methodology distinct from synthetic peptide work: RP-HPLC for primary chemical purity, SDS-PAGE for size confirmation, peptide-mapping by tryptic digestion + LC-MS for sequence confirmation, bioactivity testing in cell-proliferation or receptor-binding assays, and full release testing for endotoxin (LAL), bioburden, and host-cell-protein impurities. Eight standard fill sizes (6-40 IU) cover both research and clinical dispensing workflows. For the analytical-packet differences between biological products and synthetic peptides, see our [peptide COA buyer's field guide](/lab-notes/reading-a-peptide-coa-buyers-field-guide).
Who buys this, and why
GH-axis peptides ship to research labs studying somatotropic-pathway pharmacology, IGF-axis signalling, and pulse vs. sustained-elevation GH biology. Buyers qualifying a new source typically request sequence verification on the first lot, the counter-ion form (acetate by default), and stability data at −20 °C. Blends — the CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin co-formulated lot is the canonical example — are co-lyophilised rather than solution-mixed so the ratio is locked at the lyophilisation step.
Primary buyer fit: regional research-supplier partners and university-block resellers.
Specifications
- CAS
- 12629-01-5
- Purity (HPLC)
- ≥ 99.0%
- Common vial sizes
- 6 IU, 8 IU, 10 IU, 12 IU, 15 IU, 24 IU, 36 IU, 40 IU
- MOQ
- On request
- Lead time
- 21–45 days
- Storage
- Refrigerated 2–8°C, protect from light
Documentation available on request
- Lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
- RP-HPLC chromatogram with peak integration
- ESI-MS identity confirmation (±0.5 Da)
- Sequence verification by LC-MS/MS
- Water content by Karl Fischer
- SDS / MSDS
- Counter-ion analysis (acetate vs TFA)
- Stability at −20 °C across 12 months
- Solubility in BAC water / PBS reconstitution
Regulatory note
Highly regulated recombinant protein hormone. Sold only to qualified buyers with appropriate licensing in their jurisdiction. Order requires full compliance review, prescriber documentation, and import authorization prior to acceptance.
Frequently asked questions
Why is HGH analyzed differently from synthetic peptides?▾
Synthetic peptides are produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis with a defined chemistry; HGH is produced by recombinant expression in living cells (E. coli or mammalian) and is therefore a biological product, not a synthetic chemical. The analytical workflow differs accordingly: chemical purity by RP-HPLC is necessary but not sufficient, because biological products can have correct chemistry but wrong folding, glycosylation variants, deamidation isoforms, and host-cell-protein impurities that synthetic peptides don't have. The release packet for HGH includes SDS-PAGE for size, peptide-mapping for sequence confirmation, bioactivity assay for functional folding, endotoxin (LAL) for the E. coli expression system, and host-cell-protein ELISA. Treating HGH like a synthetic peptide at the QC level misses the analytical methods that matter most for biological-product safety and efficacy.
What's the difference between CAS 12629-01-5 and CAS 9002-72-6 for growth hormone?▾
CAS 12629-01-5 designates recombinant somatropin, the synthetic-process material with the defined 191-amino-acid sequence matching native human GH. CAS 9002-72-6 designates pituitary-derived growth hormone, the historical material isolated from cadaver pituitaries. The two share the same primary amino-acid sequence but the manufacturing-source distinction is critical: cadaver-derived material was withdrawn from the market in the 1980s after transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was documented in recipients. Modern HGH supply is exclusively recombinant; the 9002-72-6 reference appears in some older literature but should never appear on current-product COAs.
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