New medical treatment for acromegaly.

The available somatostatin analogs for subcutaneous administration lower growth hormone (GH) levels in more than 90% of patients and Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels in up to 60%. They are also capable of reducing tumor size in up to 50%. Recently long-acting somatostatin analogs were introduced. The use of these application forms can result in normalization of IGF-1 in 60% of patients after 1 year and in 75% after 3 years. The development of selective analogs for the somatostatin receptor subtype-5 potentially will enhance the potency and the spectrum of the medical treatment of acromegaly with somatostatin analogs. The new generation of dopaminergic drugs also form a potentially effective and well tolerated therapy that should be considered in the management of those acromegalic patients, which have relative low serum IGF-I concentrations, along with high serum prolactine levels. Finally, growth hormone receptor (GHR) antagonists are under development for the use in humans. Preliminary results look promising, when biochemical parameters are concerned. Interim analysis of a phase 3 study with B2036-PEG in 38 patients does show that normalization of IGF-I concentrations is reached in at least 92% of the treated patients.