Efficacy and acceptability of lanreotide Autogel® 120 mg at different dose intervals in patients with acromegaly previously treated with octreotide LAR.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of different dosing intervals of lanreotide, Somatuline Autogel® (Lan-ATG) 120 mg in patients with acromegaly, previously treated with octreotide, long-acting release (Oct-LAR).

PATIENTS AND STUDY DESIGN: Patients previously on Oct-LAR 10, 20, or 30 mg were switched to 6 repeated deep subcutaneous injections of Lan-ATG 120 mg at intervals of 56, 42, or 28 days, respectively. After the third injection, dose intervals were adjusted on the basis of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels.

RESULTS: The ITT (Intention To Treat) population comprised 35 patients who received at least one dose of study medication and at least one post-baseline efficacy assessment. Overall, 62.9% (n=22) of patients had normalised IGF-1 levels with Lan-ATG at study end (one injection interval after the 6 (th) injection of Lan-ATG), which was similar to the proportion at baseline (60.0% [n=21]). QoL did not change from baseline to study end. Patient preference for Lan-ATG was highest in the 56-day dosing interval group: 71%, 54% and 41% of the patients in the 56, 42 and 28 day groups, respectively, expressed a preference for treatment with Lan-ATG (preference for Oct-LAR: 29%, 9% and 35%, respectively, while the remainder had no preference).

CONCLUSION: Lan-ATG 120 mg injected at intervals of 56, 42 and 28 days provided equivalent hormonal control and QoL to Oct-LAR 10, 20 and 30 mg injected every 28 days, respectively. The proportion of patients preferring Lan-ATG treatment was greater in the longer injection interval groups.