Bangalore: Recent trials exhibiting the effectiveness of oral octreotide for treating acromegaly may be a cause of concern for injectable somatostatin analogs (SSAs), providing that the drug's makers find a more convenient medication schedule for patients, says an analyst with research and consulting firm GlobalData.
Dr Lakshmi Dharmarajan, GlobalData's analyst covering Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, states that a number of key opinion leaders interviewed by GlobalData are enthusiastic about the prospects of oral octreotide, following its successful trials.
The ongoing Phase III trial has yielded 65% of 151 evaluable patients achieving the primary endpoint of hormonal control, with side effects similar to those of SSAs.
Consequently, GlobalData expects oral octreotide to be launched in the major US and European markets by late 2015, with Roche having secured a commercial licensing agreement with drug maker Chiasma Pharma.
Dr Dharmarajan says: "Injectables have been the mainstay of the field for many years, with Novartis' Sandostatin LAR, the current standard of care, requiring monthly administrations by a healthcare provider.
