Lanreotide Autogel: a review of its use in the management of acromegaly.

Lanreotide Autogel (ATG) [Somatuline Depot] is a novel, long-acting preparation of the somatostatin analogue lanreotide acetate that acts via somatostatin receptors to reduce both growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels. It is indicated for the management of acromegaly and, relative to most other licensed agents, it has a favourable pharmacokinetic profile that permits administration once every 28-42 days. Subcutaneous lanreotide ATG was an effective and generally well tolerated treatment in patients with acromegaly in well designed trials and extension studies of up to 4 years duration. It was shown to be no less effective than intramuscular lanreotide long-acting (LA) microparticles treatment in these studies, with more limited data showing that lanreotide ATG therapy was as effective as intramuscular octreotide long-acting repeating (octreotide LAR) treatment. While both of these latter agents offer the advantage of treatment once every 28 days, lanreotide ATG also has the advantage of being available in a convenient pre-filled syringe and is given subcutaneously rather than intramuscularly like other somatostatin analogues. Thus, it provides a valuable first-line option for the management of patients with acromegaly.