Pharmacotherapy for acromegaly: future role for pasireotide?

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Pharmacology
• Oncology

Background:

• Somatostatin receptor ligands like octreotide and lanreotide are primary treatments for acromegaly when surgery is ineffective or not an option.
• Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder characterized by excessive growth hormone production, leading to significant health complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of pasireotide, a novel pan somatostatin receptor ligand, as a treatment for acromegaly.
• To determine pasireotide's effectiveness in patients with acromegaly resistant to existing therapies.

Main Methods:

• Clinical trials were conducted to assess pasireotide's impact on disease control in acromegaly patients.
• Patient responses were monitored, including those previously treated with maximal doses of octreotide long-acting release (LAR) or lanreotide Autogel.

Main Results:

• Pasireotide achieved disease remission in approximately one-third of patients studied.
• A notable subset of patients who were resistant to octreotide demonstrated responsiveness to pasireotide.
• Pasireotide is a viable option for patients with suboptimal responses or resistance to current maximal dose treatments.

Conclusions:

• Pasireotide demonstrates significant potential as an effective treatment for acromegaly, particularly for refractory cases.
• Its efficacy in achieving remission and overcoming resistance to other somatostatin analogs supports its clinical utility.
• Careful monitoring for the development or exacerbation of diabetes mellitus is crucial when using pasireotide.