Growth hormone deficiency historical perspective

In the mid 1940s, Li and Evans were the first to purify bovine GH. In 1981, Genentech developed the first recombinant human GH. In 1981, Genentech developed the first recombinant human GH for the therapy of severe childhood GHD. By 1985, GH extracted from human pituitary glands were used to treat growth hormone deficiency.

• In the mid 1940s, Li and Evans were the first to purify bovine GH at the University of California.^[1]
• In 1956, Li and Papkoff were the first to isolate growth hormone from the human pituitary gland at California University.
• In 1981, Genentech developed the first recombinant human GH for the therapy of severe childhood GHD. ^[2]
• By 1985, GH extracted from human pituitary glands were used to treat growth hormone deficiency.^[3]
• In 1985, treatment with GH extracts was stopped completely due to reports of four young adults in the United States with Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease who had been treated with GH.^[4]
• List of indications for GH use in non-GH-deficient children and adults have increased with time.^[5]