[Treatment of acromegaly with a new slow release somatostatin analog, lanreotide]

Treatment of Acromegaly has been improved by the development of the somatostatin analogs characterized by an increased specificity and longer duration of action. One of these analogs-Lanreotide- (Somatuline) is supplied under a slow release formulation and does not require several daily injections like other analogs presently available. The clinical pharmacodynamic studies that have been conducted in healthy and acromegalic patients show that the i.m. injection of a single dose of this slow-release formulation leads to a significant decrease of the plasma GH and IGF-1 levels. This effect lasts at least 14 days. The Lanreotide slow-release formulation has been used to treat 123 acromegalic patients who presented with a still evolutive disease after conventional therapy. The product was given at a 30 mg-dose every 10 or 14 days during a 3-to 24-month period. This treatment led to a reduction of the symptoms and to a decrease of GH hypersecretion. GH and IGF-1 levels have been normalized respectively in 46% and 32% of the patients. The observed results allow to conclude to an immediate efficacy of the treatment (without escape sign). The adverse drug events are minor and transitory. The antitumor effects are modest and inconstant. The slow release formulation seems to provide the patients with a better quality of life, as compared to the several daily injections.