October 1985
The Genetic Revolution
Science Triumphs
Key Moment
7 months from crisis to cure
Just months after the CJD crisis, Genentech received FDA approval for Protropin—the first recombinant human growth hormone. Using revolutionary DNA technology, scientists could now produce unlimited quantities of pure, safe HGH identical to the natural hormone. This marked the dawn of the biotechnology era and transformed HGH from a scarce resource into an accessible treatment.