Dong-A ST (170900.KS), a South Korean pharmaceutical company, said Tuesday it will provide 1 billion won ($700,000) worth of its growth hormone drug Growtropin to 157 children diagnosed with short stature.
The company held a "2026 Growth Hormone Donation Ceremony" at its headquarters in Yongdu-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, and delivered Growtropin-II Injection iPen 30IU to the Hanmaeum Social Welfare Foundation.
The foundation will select recipients through recommendations from pediatric endocrinologists and a document review process. Children from low-income families selected as beneficiaries will receive growth hormone treatments needed for short stature therapy for one year.
Short stature occurs in approximately 3% of all children. Of those, about 20% have pathological causes such as growth hormone deficiency, idiopathic short stature, or chromosomal abnormalities. Although long-term growth hormone treatment is necessary, many families miss the optimal treatment window due to the financial burden.
Dong-A ST launched its short stature support program in 2013 and has provided approximately 8 billion won worth of growth hormone treatments to about 1,300 children through last year. "We believe it is important to ensure that no child misses the opportunity for treatment simply because of cost," a Dong-A ST official said. "We will continue to spare no effort in providing growth hormone support so that more children can grow up healthy."