Urinary HCG: A Classic API with Expanding Applications

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) extracted from pregnant urine is one of the oldest and most reliable urinary‑derived APIs on the market. While often associated with fertility treatments (as a trigger for final oocyte maturation), HCG also has important non‑ART applications, including the treatment of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in men and certain diagnostic uses.

As an API intermediate, urinary HCG offers several advantages over recombinant HCG. The most significant is cost – urinary HCG is typically priced at 20‑25% of its recombinant counterpart, making it the only viable option for public healthcare systems in low‑ and middle‑income countries. Additionally, the long clinical history of urinary HCG provides a well‑understood safety profile without the risk of antibody formation reported for some recombinant batches.