"The results are in, and it's confirmed that (my child) needs growth hormone injections. There are liquid formulations and powder formulations; (the doctor) mentioned that after New Year's Day, the price of the injection we need will be adjusted. Without the price reduction, the monthly injection cost would be 4,000 to 5,000 yuan. Coming for injections after New Year's Day, the monthly cost will only be about 2,000 yuan," a parent recently shared on social media.

Recently, the topic of significant price cuts for long-acting growth hormone has been widely discussed in some parent groups. This is largely related to the recent implementation of the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) negotiations, through which long-acting growth hormone has been included in the national medical insurance catalog.

On December 7th, the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) officially released the "National Basic Medical Insurance, Maternity Insurance, and Work-Related Injury Insurance Drug List (2025)". The catalog shows that two long-acting growth hormone products were included and will be officially implemented starting January 1, 2026, for the treatment of growth retardation in children caused by growth hormone deficiency.

The two domestically produced long-acting growth hormone formulations included in the reimbursement list this time are TeBao Bio's Yipei Growth Hormone Injection (YiPeiSheng) and GeneScience Pharma's Jinpei Growth Hormone Injection (Jinsaizeng). Among them, YiPeiSheng is a Class 1 new biological drug for treatment, approved for market in 2025.

Compared to traditional short-acting growth hormones, long-acting growth hormones currently require only once-weekly administration, reducing injections by over 300 per year, offering significant advantages in dosing frequency, patient compliance, and long-term management.

Regarding pricing, the previous listed prices for the 5mg formulation of YiPeiSheng and the 9mg formulation of Jinsaizeng were 1,798 yuan and 3,500 yuan, respectively. After inclusion in the NRDL, the price of the 5mg YiPeiSheng was reduced from 1,798 yuan to 853.2 yuan, a decrease of approximately 53%. Although Jinsaizeng was also selected for the 2025 NRDL, the company decided not to publicly disclose the selected price initially.

However, a source close to GeneScience Pharma stated that the 9mg specification of Jinsaizeng long-acting growth hormone has been included in the latest NRDL, with the price drastically reduced from the original approximately 3,500 yuan per dose to about 900 yuan per dose, a reduction of about 75%, which will significantly alleviate the treatment burden on patients' families.

This source clarified that the post-reduction price is not uniform nationwide, as the manufacturer still needs to conduct price negotiations and bidding with provincial and municipal medical insurance bureaus. "Jinsaizeng did not directly publicize the post-reimbursement price, but the price of about 900 yuan per dose is considered an open secret within the industry."

Regarding the post-reduction treatment costs, using the example of Jinsaizeng, which had the larger price cut: the dosage of growth hormone is directly related to the patient's weight and the approved indication. The indication covered by this NRDL inclusion is growth hormone deficiency. The starting treatment dose of Jinsaizeng for this condition is 0.2 mg/kg. Taking a pediatric patient weighing 30 kg as an example, the annual treatment cost before the price reduction was about 120,000 yuan. After the reduction, calculated at 900 yuan per dose, the annual cost is only 30,000 yuan.

"This means the price of about 900 yuan per dose is a discount available to all patients. However, for patients who meet the criteria for the growth hormone deficiency indication, the annual cost of 30,000 yuan can be further reimbursed according to the local medical insurance policies, resulting in a final annual treatment cost lower than 30,000 yuan. However, the national reimbursement ratio is not unified, and the specific reimbursement amount depends on the policies of the local healthcare institutions," the source close to GeneScience Pharma added.

Another parent shared their experience of changing treatment plans due to efficacy and cost considerations. Their child, weighing about 15 kg at age 6, initially used a long-acting liquid formulation costing nearly 4,000 yuan per month; even short-acting formulations cost over 2,000 yuan. "Later, as the child's weight increased, the cost became even higher, and growth in height stalled, so we switched to a powder formulation." The medical insurance price cuts will provide substantial relief from the financial pressure for such families.

A chief physician from a tertiary hospital commented on the impact and current state of the industry from a clinical perspective. "The price reduction is undoubtedly good news for patients," the doctor stated, but emphasized that reimbursement for growth hormone is strictly limited to patients clearly diagnosed with insufficient growth hormone secretion. "For those who are simply short in stature and want to grow taller without a confirmed diagnosis of this condition, treatment must be self-paid."

The market is widely watching whether the significant price cuts will cause major fluctuations in sales. Regarding the market response post-reduction, Zhang Qing (pseudonym), a staff member from a long-acting growth hormone manufacturer, explained that unlike price changes for ordinary consumer goods which might trigger stockpiling, there has been no significant hoarding or shipment volatility for this drug. One reason is that it is a strictly regulated prescription medicine and cannot be purchased in large quantities. Another reason is that the proportion of growth hormone deficiency within the short stature population is inherently low, which objectively prevents large fluctuations in market supply and demand.

"Jinsaizeng long-acting growth hormone has been approved for three indications: growth hormone deficiency, Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS), and Turner Syndrome (TS). It is also the only long-acting growth hormone globally approved for ISS and TS indications," GeneScience Pharma stated in response to inquiries. They noted that the indication covered by this NRDL inclusion is only growth hormone deficiency, a rare disease with a very low incidence rate of 1/10,000 to 1/4,000, which was officially included in the "Second List of Rare Diseases" on September 18, 2023.

Zhang Qing emphasized in the interview that this price reduction significantly enhances the cost-effectiveness of domestic long-acting growth hormones. Previously, while effective, the high price made it unaffordable for many families. Post-reduction, it becomes a viable option for more patients in need.

"Price is a secondary factor; whether the child has the condition and needs treatment is the core issue," analyzed the tertiary hospital doctor based on their experience. They believe parents do not take the decision to inject such medication lightly, with the core concern being potential impacts on other aspects of the child's development. The doctor further explained that treatment is typically considered only when the child's height is near the lower limit for their age group or when there is a clear pathological need.

Regarding the inclusion in the NRDL and price reductions, attempts were made to contact TeBao Bio, but no effective response was received by the time of publication.

Regarding the timing of treatment, Zhang Qing advised parents to monitor their child's growth early. Treatment cost is closely tied to body weight; lighter children incur lower costs. Starting treatment early not only yields better results but also reduces the family's financial burden. Conversely, treatment costs increase for heavier children.

However, it was learned that growth hormone therapy is not without barriers and risks. It is a strictly controlled prescription drug requiring comprehensive medical evaluation before use. Another parent, Feng Chaoying (pseudonym), shared a more complex experience: "This isn't something you can just decide to use. It must be based on the doctor's assessment and experience. Those with cancer cannot use it, nor can those with a family history of cancer; many things need to be checked." Feng mentioned their child had used short-acting and powder products from different manufacturers. During treatment, mild liver damage occurred after adjusting the dosage and frequency, which resolved after immediate discontinuation.

Feng Chaoying reflected that achieving growth through exercise and diet is ideal, and injections should be a last resort. "But because our child cannot secrete (enough growth hormone), only half the normal amount, and after stopping the injections for these few months, the child's height hasn't increased. We plan to resume injections after the check-up next month."

The interviews revealed that behind this医保准入 lies the rapid development and restructuring of China's growth hormone market.

According to Frost & Sullivan statistics, China's growth hormone market size surged from 4 billion yuan in 2018 to 12 billion yuan in 2022, accounting for 34% of the global market, surpassing the United States to become the largest user in this field. Data cited in I-Mab Biopharma's IPO prospectus indicates that the market size for treating pediatric growth hormone deficiency in China will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.7% from 2018 to 2030.

With advancing corporate R&D, the competitive landscape has evolved from a single player to a multi-party contest. Currently, besides the already marketed products from GeneScience Pharma and TeBao Bio, several other companies are developing long-acting growth hormone pipelines, including Anke Bio, Visen Pharmaceuticals, and I-Mab Biopharma.

Currently, approved growth hormones in China are predominantly domestic brands. In terms of duration of action, short-acting products dominate, with few long-acting options available. It is reported that GeneScience Pharma's Jinsaizeng was approved in 2014 as the world's first long-acting growth hormone, holding a 99% share in the hospital water-based injection market. It wasn't until 2025 that TeBao Bio's long-acting growth hormone YiPeiSheng was approved, intensifying competition in the domestic long-acting product market.

Furthermore, as products from domestic and international companies continue to gain approval, competition in the long-acting growth hormone market will intensify. On December 25th, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) officially approved the marketing application for Novo Nordisk's long-acting growth hormone (LAGH) injection, Sogroya® (somapacitan), for the treatment of growth retardation due to inadequate endogenous growth hormone secretion in children aged 2.5 years and above. This approval marks Sogroya® as the first internationally developed original long-acting growth hormone available for pediatric patients in China.

Regarding issues like intensified market competition, GeneScience Pharma stated that the company is undergoing a transformation towards diversified R&D and innovation. Building on its foundation in growth hormone, GeneScience is rapidly expanding its technology into other major disease areas affecting children's health, with布局 in fields related to endocrine metabolism, sexual development, allergies, and respiratory issues.