FAQs
Find answers to common questions about Omnitrope and the support
services available to your patients.
About Omnitrope®1
What is Omnitrope and how does it work?
Omnitrope is a recombinant human growth hormone indicated for children with growth failure due to:
- Growth hormone deficiency (GHD)
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Small for Gestational Age
- Turner syndrome
- Idiopathic Short Stature
It is also indicated to treat adults with either adult onset or childhood onset GHD.
The primary action of somatropin is linear growth (e.g., increase in height), including skeletal and cell growth. Growth hormone also influences protein, carbohydrate, lipid, mineral, and connective tissue metabolism.
How is Omnitrope supplied?
Omnitrope is supplied either in prefilled cartridges of liquid formulation (for use with the Omnitrope Pen 5 or 10) or as a lyophilized powder to be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before injecting (for use with a vial and syringe).
How is Omnitrope made?
Omnitrope is made by recombinant technology. The amino acid sequence of the product is identical to that of human growth hormone of pituitary origin (somatropin), but instead of being from the human body, it is made in a laboratory.
What should I do if my patient misses an Omnitrope injection?
If your patient misses a dose of Omnitrope, instruct them – or their caregiver – to administer the missed dose as soon as possible.
In the case that your patient realizes a dose was missed and it’s almost time for the next scheduled dose, instruct them – or their caregiver – to take the next injection as normal and not to use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.
If your patient needs more support understanding how to inject Omnitrope safely at home, they can request training from their OmniSource Nurse Trainer by reaching out to their OmniSource Case Manager.
Learn more about injection resources from OmniSource
You may request injection training on behalf of a newly enrolled patient or a patient renewing their OmniSource enrollment. To do this, be sure to select “Injection Training” on the Statement of Medical Necessity (SMN) form. You may also specify if the patient wishes to continue working with a preferred trainer.
How should my patient store Omnitrope?
Store Omnitrope refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Do not freeze. Omnitrope is light sensitive and should be stored in the carton. After first use of a cartridge, the cartridge should remain in the pen and kept in a refrigerator for a maximum of 28 days. After reconstitution of a vial, the contents of the vial must be used within 3 weeks. After the first injection, the vial should be stored in the carton in a refrigerator.
Read the full Prescribing Information
Our Omnitrope (somatropin) injection Starter Kits include a cooler bag for storing Omnitrope pens. To order a Starter Kit for your patient, be sure to select “Starter Kit” on their Statement of Medical Necessity (SMN).
Who should not take Omnitrope?
Omnitrope is contraindicated in the following:
- Acute Critical Illness: Treatment with pharmacologic amounts of somatropin is contraindicated in patients with acute critical illness due to complications following open heart surgery, abdominal surgery or multiple accidental trauma, or those with acute respiratory failure.
- Prader-Willi Syndrome in Children: Somatropin is contraindicated in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese, have a history of upper airway obstruction or sleep apnea, or have severe respiratory impairment. There have been reports of sudden death when somatropin was used in such patients.
- Active Malignancy: In general, somatropin is contraindicated in the presence of active malignancy. Any preexisting malignancy should be inactive and its treatment complete prior to instituting therapy with somatropin. Somatropin should be discontinued if there is evidence of recurrent activity. Since GHD may be an early sign of the presence of a pituitary tumor or (rarely) other brain tumors, the presence of such tumors should be ruled out prior to initiation of treatment. Somatropin should not be used in patients with any evidence of progression or recurrence of an underlying intracranial tumor.
- Hypersensitivity: Omnitrope is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to somatropin or any of its excipients. Systemic hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with postmarketing use of somatropin products.
- Diabetic Retinopathy: Somatropin is contraindicated in patients with active proliferative or severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
- Closed Epiphyses: Somatropin should not be used for growth promotion in pediatric patients with closed epiphyses.
What are the side-effects of Omnitrope?
Common adverse reactions reported in adult and pediatric patients taking somatropin include injection site reactions/rashes, lipoatrophy, and headaches. Additional common adverse reactions include edema, arthralgia, myalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, paresthesia, and hypothyroidism.
About Dosing and Delivery of Omnitrope®1
How is Omnitrope administered?
Omnitrope is prescribed as a weekly dose that should be divided over 6 or 7 days of subcutaneous injections. In most cases, these injections are taken at home by the patient or with the assistance of a caregiver.
Omnitrope is supplied either in prefilled cartridges of liquid formulation for use with an Omnitrope injection pen, or as a lyophilized powder for use with a vial and syringe.
There are two administration options for Omnitrope:
- The Omnitrope Pen is available in 5 mg and 10 mg. The ready-to-use liquid cartridge eliminates the need for the patient to mix their medicine at home, and may be considered the more convenient option. A pen might be preferred by patients who are uncomfortable around needles.
- Vial and Syringe is the more cost-effective administration option. It’s available in 5.8 mg. The lyophilized powder must be reconstituted (mixed) with bacteriostatic water, included in with your patient’s medication, before use.
Complementary injection training is available to all patients enrolled in OmniSource either in-person, over the phone or by video call.
You may request injection training on behalf of a newly enrolled patient or a patient renewing their OmniSource enrollment. To do this, be sure to select “Injection Training” on the Statement of Medical Necessity (SMN) form. You may also specify if the patient wishes to continue working with a preferred trainer.
Patients can request additional training from their OmniSource Nurse Trainer by reaching out to their OmniSource Case Manager.
Where on the body is Omnitrope injected?
Omnitrope is injected subcutaneously (just below the skin).
The best sites for injection are tissues with a layer of fat between skin and muscle such as the thigh, buttocks, or abdomen. Omnitrope should not be injected near the navel or waistline.
To avoid tissue atrophy, patients should be advised to rotate injection sites and inject at least 1/2 inch from the last injection site.
Before injecting, advise the patient to clean the skin area well with an alcohol swab and wait for the area to air dry. Patients can access injection training via our OmniSource Patient Support Service.
About OmniSource® Patient Support Services
What is OmniSource?
OmniSource is our complimentary patient support program.
Our patient support services include access to:
- OmniSource Case Manager (OCM)
- Benefits Investigation and Prior Authorization Support
- Sandoz OmniStart (SOS) Program†
- Co-Pay Savings Program‡
- Self Pay Program§
- Omnitrope Injection Starter Kits
- Injection Training
- Adherence Support
What is an OmniSource Case Manager?
Every patient enrolled in our OmniSource patient support program is assigned to a dedicated OmniSource Case Manager (OCM) who will be the main point of contact for your patient throughout their treatment journey with Omnitrope.
After your patient is enrolled in OmniSource, their OCM will call to introduce themselves and welcome your patient to the OmniSource program.
During the onboarding process, the OCM will help patients navigate the insurance process. The OCMs will provide guidance for your patients throughout the treatment journey.
What is an OmniSource Nurse Trainer?
An OmniSource Nurse Trainer is a professional who can provide personalized in-home training on how to properly use the Omnitrope Pen or vial and syringe.
It’s a free service, and open to any patient, family member, or authorized caregiver.
Please note that in order to receive injection training from a Nurse Trainer, you must select “Injection Training” on the Statement of Medical Necessity form at the patient's request.
If additional training is required, a patient or their caregiver can reach out to their OmniSource Case Manager for this to be arranged.
About Insurance for Omnitrope
How will my patient know if their insurance covers Omnitrope?
Your patient or their caregiver can contact OmniSource to speak to an Omnitrope Case Manager regarding insurance questions.
Patients can contact OmniSource with questions about insurance by calling 877-456-6794 (Monday – Friday, 8AM – 8PM ET).
If your patient does not have insurance, or if they prefer to skip the reimbursement process and pay in cash to begin growth hormone treatment as soon as possible, they may be eligible for the Omnitrope Self Pay Program.
How does the Omnitrope Co-Pay Savings Program† work?
Eligible‡ patients may receive a $5,000 upfront annual benefit and pay no more than $0 for their monthly co-pay for up to 12 months.
How does the Omnitrope Self Pay‡ program work?
With the Omnitrope Self Pay Program, eligible§ patients may save an average of over $5,000 per month, versus wholesale acquisition cost.2 Omnitrope offers the most comprehensive cash pay program among daily somatropins.
How does the OmniStart (SOS) Interim Drug Program§ work?
If the insurance process takes longer than 10 days, or if your patient is switching formulations due to supply delays with their previous somatropin, patients may be eligible for the Sandoz OmniStart (SOS) Interim Drug Program. This program provides Omnitrope free of charge to patients who qualify.†
Do you have additional questions?
Contact us at 877-456-6794 to talk to an OmniSource representative who
will be happy to answer your questions regarding our services.
*Statement of Medical Necessity (SMN): Health care professionals may also click here to download and print the SMN form, complete it, and fax it to OmniSource at: 877-828-1052.
†Omnitrope Co-Pay Savings Program Eligibility: The Omnitrope Co-Pay Savings Program provides up to $5,000 in annual co-pay support for Omnitrope prescriptions. With the Omnitrope Co-pay Savings Program, eligible patients may pay $0 for their co-pay. Eligible patients who are commercially insured may receive co-pay support in the amount of up to $5,000 annually, and patients who are uninsured may receive co-pay support in the amount of up to $417 monthly, with an annual cap of $5,000. Prescription must be for an approved indication. This program is not health insurance. Patients are not eligible if prescriptions are paid, in whole or in part, by any state or federally funded programs, including but not limited to Medicare (including Part D, even in the coverage gap) or Medicaid, Medigap, VA, DOD, or TRICARE, or private indemnity, or HMO insurance plans that reimburse you for the entire cost of your prescription drugs, or where prohibited by law. Patients can participate for a maximum of 12 months. Eligible patients must have a first use of the program by December 31 of the current year. Omnitrope Co-pay Savings Program may not be combined with any other rebate, coupon, or offer. Omnitrope Co-Pay Savings Program has no cash value. Sandoz reserves the right to rescind, revoke, or amend this offer without further notice.
‡Omnitrope Self Pay Program: Prescriptions must be for an approved indication. This program is not health insurance. Patients are not eligible if this prescription is paid, in whole or in part, by any state or federally funded programs, including but not limited to Medicare (including Part D, even in the coverage gap) or Medicaid, Medigap, VA, DOD, TriCare, private indemnity, or HMO insurance plans that reimburse you for the entire cost of Omnitrope, or where prohibited by law. Patients with a state or federally funded program that does not cover any of the cost for their Omnitrope prescription are eligible to participate. Patients may continue to participate as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. Omnitrope Self Pay Program may not be combined with any other rebate, coupon, or offer. Sandoz reserves the right to rescind, revoke, or amend this offer without further notice.
*Sandoz OmniStart Program: SOS is available for a maximum of twelve (12) months to commercially insured patients with an FDA-approved Omnitrope indication during first-time benefits investigation and expired prior authorizations. SOS is also available for a maximum of two (2) months to government-insured patients with an FDA-approved Omnitrope indication during first-time benefits investigation only. This program is not health insurance. Product dispensed under SOS is not eligible for claim reimbursement and should not be submitted to any third-party private payer. SOS does not require, nor will be made contingent on, purchase requirements of any kind. Sandoz reserves the right to amend, rescind, or discontinue this program at any time without further notice. Additional eligibility criteria may apply. Contact OmniSource for further details.
References: 1. Omnitrope [prescribing information]. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; 2019. 2. References: 1. Omnitrope [prescribing information]. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; 2019. 2. Data on File. Princeton, NJ: Sandoz Inc., 2023. [Potential Savings based upon 1) average monthly miligram usage by Omnitrope Self Pay patients during 2020, and 2) Omnitrope liquid wholesale acquisition cost as of January 2021. This is not a guarantee of any particular savings or cost reduction, and individual results may vary.]