Chinese generic HCG is now recombinant rather than urinary?

[Ss99]

I’ve noticed Chinese generic HCG has been testing consistently on target or even overdosed in recent lab reports, which is a complete turnaround from Indian pharma products that have always come back underdosed. This has me wondering whether the Chinese suppliers have switched to recombinant HCG rather than the urinary-derived form that’s been standard with Indian pharma for years. The third party testing differences are great enough that it suggests to me there has been a change in production method rather than just better manufacturing standards.

I’ve been trying to source Ovitrelle for a while but having no luck, and according to Turkish Pharmacy it now requires some special prescription which makes it even harder to get hold of. If anyone has a reliable source I’d be interested to know.

I’m specifically trying to avoid urinary-derived HCG because studies have shown it contains a concerning amount of biological contaminants including proteins, glycoproteins, and potentially prions (Birken et al 2003, Stenman 2006), so I’m keen to stick with recombinant forms where possible. If anyone has any insight on whether the Chinese generic suppliers have actually made this switch, your input would be appreciated! I believe Driada and QSC have both openly stated their HCG is recombinant, but if anyone can support this I’d be very grateful.

Tagging @janoshik as I believe I’ve messaged you regarding this earlier, would be curious if you could discern the difference between the two forms if a sample was sent to you from the differences in peaks formed.

 

[Ss99]

Quick follow up question for anyone interested - does this mean the generic HCG being sold would degrade far slower than typical urinary derived HCG? I’m wondering if it can be kept at room temperature for extended periods of time like Ovitrelle, or if it still needs to be refrigerated. It’d be a huge plus for those us who travel frequently and don’t always have a fridge handy.

 

[janoshik]

Not reliably.

 

[Ss99]

Not reliably.

I found this old post you made in the thread 'HCG discourse'
HCG discourse

Based on the chromatogram examples you’ve shared, I’m curious whether you can easily distinguish r-HCG from u-HCG when analysing samples? Given the volume of Chinese and Indian HCG samples you’ve tested, I’m wondering if you’ve noticed any consistent differences in the chromatographic profiles between the two forms. If you have samples on hand that could be compared to assist the thread, I’d be happy to cover the costs for any additional analysis - I think it would be incredibly valuable information for the community.