Bone & endocrine
Lanreotide
A long-acting somatostatin analogue approved for acromegaly and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.
What it is
Lanreotide is another synthetic eight-amino-acid somatostatin analogue, given as a deep subcutaneous prolonged-release gel (Somatuline Autogel) every four weeks. It is licensed for acromegaly and for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, and its evidence base includes a randomised placebo-controlled trial.
How it works
- 1
Binds SSTR2 and SSTR5, suppressing growth hormone and gut hormone secretion.
- 2
Reduces tumour hormone output in functioning neuroendocrine tumours.
- 3
Has direct antiproliferative effects on somatostatin-receptor-positive tumour cells.
- 4
Slows gut transit and reduces secretion.
- 5
The gel depot maintains steady levels between four-weekly injections.
What it's studied for
Reported and studied effects
- Biochemical control of growth hormone and IGF-1 in a large share of acromegaly patients
- CLARINET showed significantly longer progression-free survival than placebo in gastroenteropancreatic tumours
- Reduced flushing and diarrhoea in carcinoid syndrome
- Shrinkage of the gallbladder and gallstone formation
Research protocol notes
Research context onlyResearch context only - prescription medicine. Lanreotide autogel is given as 60 to 120 mg deep subcutaneously every 28 days for acromegaly, or 120 mg every 28 days for neuroendocrine tumours, with dose guided by growth hormone and IGF-1 levels. CLARINET followed participants for a median of 96 weeks with imaging every 12 weeks.
These figures are described so you can understand what researchers did. They are not a dose, a schedule, or a suggestion — and they are not a substitute for a doctor.
Possible side effects and contraindications
Safety profile
Possible side effects
- Gallstones and biliary sludge
- Diarrhoea and abdominal pain
- Injection-site nodules and pain
- Hyperglycaemia
- Bradycardia
- Fatigue
Contraindications and cautions
- Prior hypersensitivity
- Gallstone disease needs assessment but is not absolute
- Cardiac conduction problems need monitoring
- Pregnancy only if clearly needed
A side-effect list is never complete, and these are not the only situations that warrant caution. Anything unexpected, or anything you are unsure about, should be discussed with a doctor before use.
Evidence assessment
Randomised placebo-controlled trials in both indications, including CLARINET with progression-free survival as a pre-specified primary endpoint.
References
- 01Caplin et al., Lanreotide in metastatic enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (CLARINET), NEJM 2014
- 02European Medicines Agency - Somatuline Autogel product information
References link to published literature, regulator pages or literature indexes. Where a link points to a search, it collects the peer-reviewed work on that molecule rather than a single study.
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