Lanreotide
| Evidence Level: L5 | Predicted Indications: 10 |
Table of Contents
Lanreotide: From Acromegaly to Hypertrichosis
One-Sentence Summary
Lanreotide is a long-acting somatostatin analogue, originally used for acromegaly, hyperpituitarism and pituitary gigantism. The TxGNN model's top-ranked prediction is hypertrichosis, but there are 0 clinical trials and 0 publications behind it, so it is a computational prediction only. A lower-ranked prediction, polycystic kidney disease 3 with or without polycystic liver disease, has far stronger support (see below).
Quick Overview
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Original Indication | Acromegaly, hyperpituitarism, pituitary gigantism (the Singapore licence records contain no indication text) |
| Predicted New Indication | Hypertrichosis |
| TxGNN Prediction Score | 99.97% |
| Evidence Level | L5 |
| Singapore Market Status | ✓ Marketed |
| Number of Registrations | 3 |
| Recommended Decision | Hold |
Why is This Prediction Reasonable?
Detailed mechanism of action data is not available in the data compiled for this report. Lanreotide is known as a somatostatin analogue that acts mainly through somatostatin receptors SSTR2 and SSTR5. It suppresses growth hormone secretion, which explains its use in acromegaly and related pituitary conditions.
For hypertrichosis, no mechanistic link is established. No known pathway connects somatostatin receptor signalling to hair growth disorders. The high score (99.97%) reflects proximity in the knowledge graph, not biological or clinical evidence. The top five predictions (hypertrichosis, a dental/periodontal malformation syndrome, a Dandy-Walker malformation syndrome, a genetic hair shaft abnormality and Ambras-type hypertrichosis) all have no trials or publications and no plausible mechanism.
A better-supported prediction ranks 8th: polycystic kidney disease 3 with or without polycystic liver disease. Somatostatin analogues act through SSTR2 on bile duct cells and kidney tubule cells. They lower intracellular cAMP, which reduces cyst fluid secretion and cyst cell proliferation. This mechanism is well supported in polycystic liver and kidney disease. The listed disease is a specific genetic subtype (GANAB-related), whereas most trial evidence comes from the wider ADPKD/polycystic liver disease group, so the evidence applies by extension.
Clinical Trial Evidence
Currently no related clinical trials registered for hypertrichosis, and none for the 8th-ranked polycystic disease prediction in the data compiled for this report. The RCT evidence for the latter appears in the literature below.
Literature Evidence
Currently no related literature available for hypertrichosis.
For reference, the strongest evidence is for the rank-8 prediction (polycystic kidney/liver disease):
| PMID | Year | Type | Journal | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42320793 | 2026 | RCT | Kidney Int | Three-year double-blind, placebo-controlled study testing whether lanreotide slows GFR decline in stage 2/3 ADPKD |
| 19646443 | 2009 | RCT | Gastroenterology | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: lanreotide reduced polycystic liver volume |
| 23799922 | 2013 | Pooled RCT analysis | Aliment Pharmacol Ther | Safety and efficacy of different lanreotide doses in polycystic liver disease |
| 31022403 | 2019 | Clinical study (RCT-based) | Gastroenterology | Lanreotide reduced liver growth in ADPKD, using data from an open-label randomized trial |
| 25369108 | 2015 | Clinical trial | Liver Int | RESOLVE trial: 6-month open-label lanreotide in ADPKD with polycystic liver |
| 42476150 | 2026 | Network meta-analysis | Clin Transl Gastroenterol | Compared octreotide, lanreotide and pasireotide in ADPKD/PLD, with FAERS real-world safety data |
| 26688394 | 2016 | Review | Ann R Coll Surg Engl | Systematic review of somatostatin analogues and mTOR inhibitors in polycystic liver disease |
| 26126910 | 2015 | Review | Curr Top Med Chem | Rationale for lanreotide in polycystic kidney and liver disease via SSTR/cAMP signalling |
| 33779943 | 2021 | Safety study | Drugs R D | Incident gallstones during somatostatin analogue treatment, with acute biliary complications, especially after discontinuation |
Singapore Market Information
| Authorization Number | Product Name | Dosage Form | Approved Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIN14289P | Somatuline Autogel Prolonged Release Solution for Injection in a Pre-filled Syringe 120 mg | Injection, solution | Not stated in the licence records |
| SIN14290P | Somatuline Autogel Prolonged Release Solution for Injection in a Pre-filled Syringe 90 mg | Injection, solution | Not stated in the licence records |
| SIN14291P | Somatuline Autogel Prolonged Release Solution for Injection in a Pre-filled Syringe 60 mg | Injection, solution | Not stated in the licence records |
All three licences are valid single-ingredient products (manufacturer: Ipsen Pharma Biotech). The only dosage form is an injectable.
Safety Considerations
Package insert warnings and contraindications were not available in the data compiled for this report. Please refer to the package insert for safety information.
- Conditions flagged in the knowledge graph (these come from drug-disease contraindication links, not label text): hypertension, liver disease, gallbladder disease and gallstones (cholelithiasis, cholecystolithiasis, choledocholithiasis), hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia, hypothyroidism (including myxedema and congenital hypothyroidism) and impaired renal function.
- Drug interactions: 100 interactions were found, and all 20 shown in the data are rated Moderate. The listed ones are mostly glucose-lowering agents, including metformin, pioglitazone, glimepiride, chlorpropamide, acarbose, SGLT2 inhibitors (canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin), DPP-4 inhibitors (alogliptin, linagliptin), GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, dulaglutide, albiglutide) and many insulins. Blood glucose should be monitored when lanreotide is combined with these drugs.
- Gallstones: a published safety study (PMID 33779943) reports gallstones during somatostatin analogue treatment, with acute biliary complications especially after stopping treatment.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Decision: Hold
Rationale: The top-ranked prediction, hypertrichosis, rests only on a graph-based score. It has no trials, no literature and no plausible mechanism. It should not be pursued.
To proceed, the following is needed:
- Re-prioritise the candidate list. The polycystic kidney/liver disease prediction (rank 8, evidence level L1, suggested "Proceed with Guardrails") is far better supported and should be evaluated as a separate candidate.
- For that candidate, the modest effect on liver volume, symptomatic benefit and long-term outcomes need confirmation. Kidney benefit is less consistent across trials. Study details should be verified against the full publications, because some titles and abstracts in the data are truncated.
- Package insert warnings and contraindications from the HSA records (a blocking data gap for safety screening).
- Detailed mechanism of action data from DrugBank.
- Gallstone and blood-glucose monitoring plans, and a review of interactions with glucose-lowering drugs.
- Confirmation of the approved indications for the three Singapore licences.
Disclaimer
This content is for research purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical validation is required before any clinical application.