Octreotide

Octreotide is a peptide medication indicated for the treatment of acromegaly, as well as diarrhea associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors and vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting tumors (VIPomas).

Acromegaly is a pathological disorder driven by excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH), which leads to abnormal proliferation of body tissues and metabolic dysfunction. It is most commonly caused by a growth hormone-secreting tumor of the anterior pituitary gland, with typical manifestations including disproportionate enlargement of the hands, feet and face, and may also be accompanied by organomegaly and insulin resistance. As a life-threatening condition, acromegaly requires long-term clinical management.

Octreotide is a long-acting agent whose pharmacological effects mimic those of endogenous somatostatin, exerting an inhibitory effect on growth hormone secretion. It is clinically used for the treatment of acromegaly and the symptomatic management of various tumors such as carcinoid tumors and VIPomas. Historically, octreotide was only available for injectable administration; on June 26, 2020, Mycapssa—the first FDA-approved delayed-release oral somatostatin analog, developed by Chiasma Inc.—was authorized for the long-term maintenance treatment of acromegaly.