U.S. OKs Wider Use of Lilly Growth Hormone

U.S. regulators approved use of a growth hormone for boosting the height of children who are short but in good health.

Eli Lilly’s hormone, Humatrope, has been sold in the United States since 1987 and used for treating children with growth hormone deficiencies. With the new approval, Indianapolis-based Lilly will be able to market Humatrope for short children with normal levels of the hormone and no evidence of a disease that stunts growth.

The Food and Drug Administration said it approved the treatment for the shortest 1.2% of children. For 10-year-old boys and girls, that would correspond to a height of less than 4 feet 1 inch.

Lilly shares rose 53 cents to $67.35 on the NYSE.