Simplified growth hormone therapy--first clinical experience with the KabiPen.

For 30 years, GH deficient children have been treated with human GH. Earlier, therapy was given by intramuscular injections, but recently subcutaneous injections have been used. For the last few years, many children have been given daily injections, which have proved more effective. The form in which GH is supplied and administered entails taking an inconvenient hospital method into the daily family routine. The need to simplify the method of administration of GH has been fulfilled by a multidose vial for recombinant somatropin, developed to be used in an injection pen, the KabiPen. In the first clinical trial of 40 children, aged 2.5-21 years, all the families found the KabiPen to be much more convenient, less time-consuming, and easier when travelling; it also requires less space in the refrigerator and is easier for the child to handle. Most of the children found the KabiPen injections less painful, due to a finer and sharper needle and a smaller injection volume. Out of the 40 families, as many as 34 wanted to continue with the KabiPen after the 1-month trial.