Skip To Main Content
Healthcare Professionals Site

Prescribing Information

Phone support

SUPPORT IS A PHONE CALL AWAY:
1-866-NUTROPIN (1-866-688-7674)

Nutropin GPS™ and Patient Support

Get personalized help from Nutropin Growing Patient Support (GPS) Program

Whether it's getting your treatment up and running quickly, helping to navigate the insurance maze, or getting your growth hormone (GH) therapy questions answered, Nutropin GPS has an ongoing commitment to support you and your healthcare team throughout treatment.

SELECT SUPPORT TYPE:

Nutropin GPS™: Supporting You Throughout Therapy

Nutropin GPS: Discover Support Throughout Treatment

Nutropin GPS financial resources

Getting Started with Nutropin GPS™

To get started,
download the Patient Consent Form

First things first:

To let us help you access your prescribed Nutropin therapy and our patient support programs, provide your approval with the online Patient Consent Form.

How do I get started?

Your doctor’s office will send a Prescriber Service Form and a prescription to a specialty pharmacy (a pharmacy that specializes in filling prescriptions for complex conditions) and to your insurance company. If you and your doctor decide to use Nutropin GPS services, you'll be assigned a case manager. Your case manager will work with you to make sure you receive the medication and injection training you need to start therapy.

What does my case manager do?

When you or your doctor's office calls Nutropin GPS, we'll connect you with a dedicated Nutropin GPS case manager who can try to help you with issues such as:

  • What your health insurance plan covers (known as "benefits investigation")
  • Whether your insurer must approve Nutropin AQ® (somatropin) injection, for subcutaneous use before your therapy begins (known as "prior authorization")
  • What happens if the insurer decides your Nutropin therapy is not covered (known as a "denial," which may be appealed)
  • How to keep your prescription active. Most insurance companies require updated reports from your doctor’s office every 3 to 12 months to keep your "insurance authorization" in place

How do I enroll in Nutropin GPS?

To enroll in Nutropin GPS, call us at 1-866-NUTROPIN (1-866-688-7674) or fax at 1-800-545-0612.

Patient Support Programs: Get Detailed Information

Patient Support Programs: Get Detailed Information

Click questions to see answers.

With your Nutropin GPS Co-pay Card, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 annual savings on treatment costs regardless of your income level.

Key Features of the Nutropin Co-pay Card Program

  • The Nutropin AQ® NuSpin® Co-pay Card Program provides support to eligible patients of up to $5,000 per 12-month enrollment cycle*
  • Patients are not required to meet any income criteria to qualify for this benefit
  • Eligible patients may pay as little as $5 per prescription/refill
  • The maximum co-pay assistance allowable to any patient under the program is $5,000 per year
Co-pay card example

*Co-pay assistance is capped at $500 per month, however; outstanding co-pay expenses above the $500 monthly cap may be submitted (up to the $5,000 cap) directly to Nutropin GPS by the end of the calendar year.

If you have questions, talk to your healthcare providers’ office or call us at: 1-866-688-7674.

Eligible patients may enroll in the Co-pay Card Program online.

e-Submit

For more information, review the co-pay brochure.

Nutropin GPS Co-Pay Brochure - Download PDF (4.3 MB)

To learn how to get started, read Getting Started with Nutropin GPS.

This Nutropin GPS™ Co-pay Program is valid ONLY for patients with commercial (private or non-governmental) insurance who have a valid prescription for a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved indication of a Genentech medication. Patients using Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap, Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), TRICARE or any other federal or state government program (collectively, “Government Programs”) to pay for their medications are not eligible. The program is not valid for medications that are eligible to be reimbursed in their entirety by private insurance plans or other programs.

Under the program, the patient will pay a co-pay. After reaching the maximum program benefit, the patient will be responsible for all remaining out-of-pocket expenses. The amount of the program’s benefits cannot exceed the patient’s out-of-pocket expenses for the cost of the drug fees associated with Nutropin. The program benefit will reset every January 1st. This program is not health insurance or a benefit plan. The program does not obligate the use of any specific product or provider. Patients receiving assistance from charitable free medicine programs (such as the Genentech Patient Foundation) or any other charitable organizations for the same expenses covered by the program are not eligible. The co-pay benefit cannot be combined with any other rebate, free trial or similar offer for the medication. No party may seek reimbursement for all or any part of the benefit received through this program.

The program may be accepted by participating pharmacies, physicians’ offices or hospitals. Once a patient is enrolled, this program will not honor claims with date of service or medication dispensing that precede program enrollment date by more than 180 days. Claims must be submitted within 365 days from the date of service unless otherwise indicated. Use of this program must be consistent with all relevant health insurance requirements. Participating patients, pharmacies, physician offices and hospitals are responsible for reporting the receipt of all program benefits as required by any insurer or by law. Program benefits may not be sold, purchased, traded or offered for sale.

The patient or their guardian must be 18 years or older to receive program assistance. This program is only valid in the United States and U.S. Territories. This program is void where prohibited by law and shall follow state restrictions in relation to AB-rated generic equivalents (e.g., MA, CA) where applicable. Eligible patients will be automatically re-enrolled in the program on an annual basis. Eligible patients will be removed from the program after 3 years of inactivity (e.g., no claims submitted in a 3-year timeframe). Program eligibility and automatic re-enrollment are contingent upon the patient’s ability to meet all requirements set forth by the program. Healthcare providers may not advertise or otherwise use the program as a means of promoting their services or Genentech’s products to patients. Genentech reserves the right to rescind, revoke or amend the program without notice at any time.

We know the process for insurance verification and authorization takes time. Eligible patients may receive medicine for a limited time while their insurance coverage is being evaluated. To learn how to get started, read Getting Started with Nutropin GPS.

For those who don't qualify for the Nutropin GPS Co-pay Card Program, we can also refer you to a co-pay foundation for help with your co-pay. You may be referred to a co-pay assistance program if you have:

  • Public insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid
  • Private insurance

Patients enrolled in Medicare Part D may be eligible to apply for co-pay assistance, including fees associated with true out-of-pocket (TrOOP) expenses.

To learn how to get started, read Getting Started with Nutropin GPS.

*Genentech and Nutropin GPS™ do not influence or control the operations or eligibility criteria of any independent co-pay assistance foundation and cannot guarantee co-pay assistance after a referral from Nutropin GPS™. The foundations to which we refer patients are not exhaustive or indicative of Genentech’s or Nutropin GPS™ endorsement or financial support. There may be other foundations to support the patient's disease state.

The Genentech Patient Foundation gives free Genentech medicine to patients who don’t have insurance coverage or who have financial concerns.

Patients will get free Genentech medicine if they:

  • Do not have insurance or coverage for their Genentech medicine and their household makes less than $150,000 per year
  • Have insurance, can't afford their out-of-pocket costs, have pursued all available financial assistance, and meet certain income requirements

Download the Genentech Patient Foundation Enrollment Form to get started with your application. Once completed follow the instructions on where to send the enrollment form.

Download the Enrollment Form

Once we receive your information, Genentech Patient Foundation will contact you with further instructions. This may include verifying financial eligibility.

Important Safety Information

INDICATIONS:

WHO IS NUTROPIN THERAPY FOR?

Nutropin AQ® (somatropin) injection for subcutaneous use is a human growth hormone that is available by prescription only.
Doctors prescribe Nutropin therapy for children and teenagers who are short or growing slowly because they:

  • Do not make enough growth hormone on their own
  • Have idiopathic short stature, which means they are shorter than 98.8% of other children of the same age and sex; are growing at a rate not likely to allow them to reach normal adult height; and no other cause of short stature can be found
  • Have Turner syndrome
  • Have chronic kidney disease (CKD) up to the time of kidney transplant

Doctors prescribe Nutropin therapy for adults who have growth hormone deficiency that began either in:

  • Adulthood as a result of pituitary disease, diseases of the hypothalamus, surgery, radiation therapy, or trauma; or
  • Childhood. Patients treated for growth hormone deficiency in childhood, whose bones have stopped growing, should be reevaluated to see if they need to continue with growth hormone therapy

Your doctor will test to see if growth hormone is right for you.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Nutropin therapy and your safety:

Please read this Important Safety Information carefully. Then, if you have any questions, talk with your doctor.

NUTROPIN THERAPY IS NOT FOR:

  • Patients having serious complications after undergoing open heart surgery, abdominal surgery, serious injuries involving many body systems, or life-threatening breathing problems. Deaths have been reported in such cases
  • Children who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and are very overweight or have a history of severe breathing problems. Deaths have been reported in children with PWS who are very overweight, have a history of blocked upper airways, sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleeping), or other severe breathing problems
  • Patients who have active cancer. Because growth hormone deficiency can be an early sign of some tumors in the brain or pituitary gland, the presence of these types of tumors should be ruled out by your doctor before you start Nutropin therapy
  • Patients who are allergic to somatropin, the active ingredient in Nutropin therapy, or the inactive ingredients in Nutropin therapy
  • Adults or children with certain types of eye disease caused by diabetes
  • Children and teenagers whose bones have finished growing

What should you tell your doctor before starting Nutropin therapy?

  • If you take cyclosporine, hormone replacement therapy, insulin or other diabetes medications, drugs containing steroids, or drugs for seizures. These medications may need to be adjusted during Nutropin therapy
  • If you had cancer as a child. An increased risk of a new tumor, particularly certain brain tumors, has been reported in patients taking Nutropin therapy. If you have pre-existing tumors or growth hormone deficiency caused by abnormal tissue in the brain, you should be watched closely for the worsening or return of this condition
  • If you have diabetes, risk factors for diabetes, or impaired glucose tolerance. If so, your doctor should monitor your blood sugar closely during Nutropin therapy. New cases of type 2 diabetes have been reported in patients taking Nutropin therapy
  • If you have pituitary hormone deficiency(s) (an inability of the pituitary gland to produce sufficient hormones) or adrenal hormone deficiency (an inability of the adrenal glands to produce sufficient hormones, primarily cortisol). Your doctor may further monitor your hormone levels or your hormone replacement therapy closely while you are taking Nutropin therapy
  • If you are pregnant, nursing, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether Nutropin is excreted in human milk. Nutropin therapy should be used during pregnancy only when clearly needed

While taking Nutropin, contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

  • Changes in upper airway obstruction (including onset of or increased snoring) and/or new onset sleep apnea, in patients with PWS. These patients should also have effective weight control and be monitored by a doctor for signs of respiratory infection
  • Changes in vision, a bad headache, or nausea with or without vomiting. This may be a sign of increased pressure in the brain
  • Any allergic reaction you experience to the injection of Nutropin therapy
  • A limp or have hip or knee pain
    • A fracture in the ball of the hip joint can occur in children who have endocrine problems and in children who have rapid growth
    • Children with growth failure due to CKD should be examined periodically for evidence of loss of bone minerals. Hip x-rays should be taken before starting Nutropin therapy in these children
  • Progression of scoliosis (curvature of the spine) that can occur in children who have rapid growth. Nutropin therapy has not been shown to increase the occurrence of this condition
  • Increases in laboratory test serum levels of inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone (PTH), or IGF-1
  • Abdominal pain. Cases of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) have been reported rarely in children and adults receiving Nutropin therapy

Other important information about Nutropin

  • Adults may retain water during Nutropin therapy. This may be brief but may increase with higher doses of Nutropin therapy
  • Patients should have their thyroid function tested periodically during Nutropin therapy. Thyroid hormone treatment may need to be started or adjusted
  • Patients should be sure to inject Nutropin at a different recommended place on their body each time to avoid tissue breakdown. A doctor or nurse should provide injection training and supervise the first injection
  • The use of Nutropin therapy has not been studied in patients over 65 years of age. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to Nutropin therapy and may experience more side effects
  • Patients with Turner syndrome should be monitored closely by a doctor for ear infections and cardiovascular problems during Nutropin therapy

What are common possible side effects of Nutropin therapy?

Common side effects reported in adults and children taking Nutropin therapy include injection site reactions. Additional common side effects in adults include swelling, joint pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

You may report side effects to FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

How should you store Nutropin?

Nutropin must be kept refrigerated (36° to 46°F [2° to 8°C]). Do not freeze. Cartridges and NuSpin pens must be used within 28 days of initial use. Throw away any unused Nutropin after 28 days of initial use. Before giving an injection, check the manufacturer’s expiration date on the cartridge or pen. Do not use if it has expired. Do not inject medication if the solution is cloudy.

Please see accompanying Nutropin full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information.