What Are Novarel and Pregnyl?
Novarel and Pregnyl are brand names for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone used to trigger ovulation in fertility treatments like IVF or to treat low testosterone in men. Both contain the same active ingredient—hCG derived from the urine of pregnant women—and deliver identical therapeutic effects at equivalent doses.[1]
Key Formulation Differences
The main difference lies in the inactive ingredients and delivery form:
- Novarel: Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder in 10,000 USP unit vials, reconstituted with a diluent like bacteriostatic water before injection. It's manufactured by Ferring Pharmaceuticals.[1][2]
- Pregnyl: Also lyophilized powder in 10,000 IU vials for reconstitution, but includes mannitol as a stabilizer and is produced by Organon (now part of Merck).[1][3]
These formulation tweaks affect stability and mixing but not the hCG potency or clinical outcomes.
How Do They Compare in Use?
Clinically, they are interchangeable—doctors often switch between them based on availability or cost without adjusting doses. Both are intramuscular injections administered around 34-36 hours before egg retrieval in fertility cycles. No head-to-head trials show superiority; response rates, ovulation triggers, and side effect profiles match.[1][4]
Availability and Pricing Factors
Pregnyl faced U.S. shortages in the 2010s, leading many clinics to default to Novarel. Pregnyl returned but remains pricier in some markets (~$100-150 per vial vs. Novarel's ~$70-120, varying by pharmacy).[4] Neither has active patents listed on DrugPatentWatch.com, as hCG is a long-genericized biologic with no exclusivity barriers.[5]
Common Patient Questions on Switching
Patients report no noticeable differences in injection comfort, bloating, or OHSS risk when switching. Always confirm with your doctor, as diluent instructions differ slightly (e.g., Novarel uses 10 mL diluent for 1,000 units/mL concentration).[1][4]
Sources
[1]: FDA Label - Novarel
[2]: FDA Label - Pregnyl
[3]: Ferring Pharmaceuticals product info
[4]: American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines on hCG triggers
[5]: DrugPatentWatch.com - hCG patents