Somatuline Depot (lanreotide)
An approved treatment for Acromegaly.
The same compound appears under different names depending on the context. Here is how to identify Lanreotide wherever you encounter it, plus the key facts at a glance.
- Generic name
- Lanreotide
- Brand name
- Somatuline Depot
- Development code
- BIM 23014
- Drug class
- Somatostatin analog
- Manufacturer
- Ipsen
- How it's taken
- Somatuline Depot is given by a healthcare provider as a deep subcutaneous injection (under the skin, not into the muscle) in the upper outer part of the buttock once every 4 weeks.
A long-acting monthly injection that suppresses growth hormone by mimicking somatostatin. Designed for convenient once-monthly dosing with sustained hormone control.
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Where Lanreotide fits
Alternative first-line somatostatin analog alongside octreotide for acromegaly. The US label covers long-term treatment of people whose acromegaly was not controlled by surgery and/or radiation, or who cannot have those treatments. Also approved for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, broadening its clinical use.
How Lanreotide works
Lanreotide is another man-made version of somatostatin that reduces growth hormone production. The long-acting form stays in your body for about 28 days, continuously working to control growth hormone levels. It is usually given every 4 weeks, and some patients who are well controlled can move to 120 mg every 6 or 8 weeks.
Mechanism: Somatostatin analog with high affinity for SSTR2 and SSTR5 receptors, inhibiting growth hormone release
Side effects and safety
Common side effects include diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and gallstones. Some people experience injection site pain. Blood sugar can go too high or too low, and the heart rate can slow, so your doctor may check glucose and heart rate. Tell your doctor about persistent diarrhea or severe stomach pain. The label also warns that lanreotide can lower thyroid function and can cause fatty, discolored or loose stools, bloating and weight loss from poor fat absorption, which your doctor should check if they start or get worse.
This is not a complete list of side effects. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what to expect and when to seek medical attention.
Taking Lanreotide
Somatuline Depot is given by a healthcare provider as a deep subcutaneous injection (under the skin, not into the muscle) in the upper outer part of the buttock once every 4 weeks. This long-acting formulation releases lanreotide slowly over 28 days.
Availability and cost
Generic versions may be available at a lower cost. Ask your pharmacist.
Long-acting somatostatin analog administered as a monthly deep subcutaneous injection. FDA-approved generic lanreotide, rated as substitutable for Somatuline Depot, has been available since 2024, which can lower costs.
Help paying for Somatuline Depot
Pick your insurance to see which help fits. Drugmaker copay cards can't be used with Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE; charity funds are the usual route there.
- Insurance and case manager help
Patient Access Managers verify benefits and help with prior authorizations and appeals, and give ongoing insurance support during treatment.
The official page does not say who qualifies. Ask the program. · source - Copay help
Copay support for eligible commercially insured patients; annual maximum applies. Not available with Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE, or to residents of Massachusetts or California.
For: private insurance · source - Free medicine program
Free drug for US residents who are uninsured or functionally uninsured, face financial hardship, and meet financial eligibility criteria.
For: no insurance, underinsured · source
Good to know: Patients in alternate funding programs are not eligible for free drug. Rhode Island residents get drug-cost help only, not injection costs. Mon-Fri 8 AM-8 PM ET.
- From a charity · TotalAssist (formerly PAN Foundation)Acromegaly fundOpen
Pays for: Out-of-pocket costs for approved medications, up to $5,000 per year. Requires Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE.
- From a charity · The Assistance FundAcromegaly fundWaitlist
Pays for: Copays, coinsurance, deductibles and other health-related expenses.
The foundation says: “WAITLIST — Accepting Waitlist Patients. TAF is currently accepting requests to join the enrollment waitlist for this program. Waitlists a…”
How acromegaly treatments compare
Five FDA-approved medications are available for acromegaly. Your endocrinologist will recommend a treatment based on your tumor size, IGF-1 levels, symptoms, and how you respond to initial therapy. This chart summarizes the key practical differences between options.
5 FDA-approved acromegaly treatments are available: Sandostatin LAR (octreotide, approved 1998); Somatuline Depot (lanreotide, approved 2007); Signifor LAR (pasireotide, approved 2014); Somavert (pegvisomant, approved 2003); Palsonify (paltusotine, approved 2025). Sandostatin LAR is typically used as first-line medical therapy (injectable).
| Drug | How it works | How it’s given | How often | Where you get it | Typical use | FDA approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sandostatin LAR octreotide | Somatostatin analog — mimics a hormone that tells the pituitary to release less growth hormone | Intramuscular injection (gluteal muscle) | Every 4 weeks | Clinic or infusion center | First-line medical therapy (injectable) | 1998 |
Somatuline Depot lanreotide You are here | Somatostatin analog — same receptor target as octreotide, but given as a deep subcutaneous gel rather than an intramuscular injection | Deep subcutaneous injection (upper outer buttock) | Every 4 weeks (FDA-approved extended dosing: 120mg every 6–8 weeks for biochemically controlled patients) | Clinic (healthcare provider administration per FDA label) | First-line medical therapy (injectable) | 2007 |
Signifor LAR pasireotide | Multi-receptor somatostatin analog — targets more receptor subtypes than first-generation options | Intramuscular injection (gluteal muscle) | Every 4 weeks | Clinic or infusion center | Second-line, after first-generation somatostatin analogs | 2014 |
Somavert pegvisomant | Growth hormone receptor antagonist — blocks GH from binding to cells instead of reducing GH release | Subcutaneous injection (self-administered) | Daily | Home (self-injection) | Second-line or add-on to somatostatin analog | 2003 |
Palsonify paltusotine | Oral somatostatin agonist — activates the same SST2 receptor as injectable somatostatin analogs, taken as a pill | Oral tablet | Once daily | Home (oral, no injection needed) | First-line medical therapy, or switch from injectable somatostatin analog | 2025 |
This chart summarizes approved acromegaly treatments to help you understand the landscape. It is not medical advice. Treatment decisions depend on your individual health profile, tumor characteristics, lab results, and response to therapy. Dosing intervals shown reflect FDA labeling; your endocrinologist may adjust intervals based on your individual response. Always discuss options with your endocrinologist.
Clinical trial results
FDA approved Somatuline Depot in August 2007. In approval studies, 63% of patients had a greater than 50% drop in growth hormone levels within 4 weeks. After 48 weeks, 43% achieved normal IGF-1 levels.
Development history
Lanreotide was developed as an alternative somatostatin analogue option. The Somatuline Depot formulation using slow-release technology was approved by the FDA in 2007, providing a convenient once-monthly injection option.
Explore Acromegaly trials
Other Acromegaly treatments
Lanreotide in Trial Friend News and Guides
Common questions about Lanreotide
▸What is Lanreotide (Somatuline Depot)?
A long-acting monthly injection that suppresses growth hormone by mimicking somatostatin. Designed for convenient once-monthly dosing with sustained hormone control.
▸How does Lanreotide work?
Lanreotide is another man-made version of somatostatin that reduces growth hormone production. The long-acting form stays in your body for about 28 days, continuously working to control growth hormone levels. It is usually given every 4 weeks, and some patients who are well controlled can move to 120 mg every 6 or 8 weeks.
▸What are the side effects of Lanreotide?
Common side effects include diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and gallstones. Some people experience injection site pain. Blood sugar can go too high or too low, and the heart rate can slow, so your doctor may check glucose and heart rate. Tell your doctor about persistent diarrhea or severe stomach pain. The label also warns that lanreotide can lower thyroid function and can cause fatty, discolored or loose stools, bloating and weight loss from poor fat absorption, which your doctor should check if they start or get worse.
▸How is Lanreotide taken?
Somatuline Depot is given by a healthcare provider as a deep subcutaneous injection (under the skin, not into the muscle) in the upper outer part of the buttock once every 4 weeks. This long-acting formulation releases lanreotide slowly over 28 days.
▸Is Lanreotide FDA approved?
Yes, Lanreotide (Somatuline Depot) is FDA approved (2007) for the treatment of Acromegaly.
▸What is lanreotide (Somatuline Depot) used for?
Somatuline Depot is approved for 3 conditions: acromegaly, gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and carcinoid syndrome.
Acromegaly: A hormone disorder where the body makes too much growth hormone, in people who did not respond well to surgery or radiation, or who cannot have those treatments.
GEP-NETs: Adults with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (slow-growing tumors of the gut or pancreas) that cannot be removed by surgery, where it is used to delay the tumor from growing.
Carcinoid syndrome: In adults, it reduces how often a person needs short-acting rescue injections for flushing and diarrhea.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸What does lanreotide do in the body?
Lanreotide is a man-made copy of somatostatin, a natural hormone that acts as a brake on other hormones.
How it works: It attaches tightly to 2 somatostatin receptors (called SSTR2 and SSTR5) and that signal is what turns down growth hormone (GH) release.
Goal in acromegaly: Bring GH and a related marker called IGF-1 back into the normal range.
How long it lasts: After a single injection, GH levels fall quickly and stay down for at least 28 days, which is why it is given about once a month.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸What drug class is lanreotide? Is it a chemotherapy drug?
Lanreotide is a somatostatin analog, not a chemotherapy drug.
Drug class: Somatostatin analogs are hormone-like drugs that mimic natural somatostatin.
Not chemotherapy: It does not work by killing dividing cells. In neuroendocrine tumors it slows tumor growth by acting on somatostatin receptors rather than by the mechanisms chemotherapy uses.
With other treatments: Your care team may use it alongside other cancer treatments, but the label describes it only as a somatostatin analog.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸What is the brand name of lanreotide, and who makes it?
In the United States, lanreotide is sold under the brand name Somatuline Depot, made by Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Lanreotide acetate: It is simply the chemical salt form of the drug used in the syringe, so lanreotide acetate injection and lanreotide injection refer to the same medicine.
Code and generic: Its development code was BIM 23014, and an FDA-approved generic has been available since 2024.
Reporting side effects: Suspected side effects can be reported to Ipsen at 1-855-463-5127 or to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸Where do you inject Somatuline Depot?
The injection goes into the upper outer part of the buttock (the label calls this the superior external quadrant).
Depth: It is a deep subcutaneous injection, meaning it goes into the fatty tissue under the skin rather than into the muscle.
Alternating sides: The side is alternated between the right and left buttock from one injection to the next.
Injection site reactions: The label also says that in trials, injection site reactions were more common early in treatment and became less common as treatment went on.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸How is Somatuline Depot administered?
A healthcare provider gives the injection.
Preparation: The prefilled syringe is taken out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before the injection so it can reach room temperature, and the sealed pouch is opened only right before use.
Injection: The provider pushes the plunger slowly over 20 seconds to deliver the thick, gel-like drug deep under the skin of the buttock.
Appearance: The contents normally look white to pale yellow and may contain tiny bubbles, which is expected.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸Can lanreotide be self-administered at home?
Not under the current US label.
Why: Somatuline Depot is a deep subcutaneous injection, and the label says it is intended to be given by a healthcare provider.
What to do: Ask your care team where and how your injections will be given.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸What is the dose of lanreotide, and how often is it given?
The dose depends on the condition, with acromegaly starting at 90 mg every 4 weeks and GEP-NETs and carcinoid syndrome using 120 mg every 4 weeks.
Acromegaly: The starting dose is 90 mg every 4 weeks for 3 months. After that, based on GH and IGF-1 blood levels, the dose may stay at 90 mg, go up to 120 mg, or go down to 60 mg, all every 4 weeks.
Longer intervals: People whose acromegaly is controlled on 60 or 90 mg may be switched to 120 mg every 6 or 8 weeks, with blood tests 6 weeks after the change.
GEP-NETs and carcinoid syndrome: The standard dose is 120 mg every 4 weeks, and someone already receiving it for a GEP-NET does not get an extra dose for carcinoid syndrome.
Kidney or liver problems: People with acromegaly who have moderate or severe kidney or liver problems start at 60 mg.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸What are the side effects of Somatuline Depot?
The most common side effects are digestive, including diarrhea and abdominal pain, along with gallstones and injection site reactions.
Acromegaly studies: In pooled acromegaly studies of 416 people, the most common side effects were diarrhea (37%), abdominal pain (19%), nausea (11%), gallstones or gallbladder sludge (20%), injection site pain or lumps (9%), joint pain (7%) and headache (7%).
GEP-NET trial: People on Somatuline Depot versus placebo reported abdominal pain (34% vs 24%), muscle or back pain (19% vs 13%), vomiting (19% vs 9%), headache (16% vs 11%), injection site reactions (15% vs 7%), high blood sugar (14% vs 5%), high blood pressure (14% vs 5%) and gallstones (14% vs 7%).
Carcinoid syndrome trial: Headache (12% vs 5%), dizziness (7% vs 0%) and muscle spasm (5% vs 0%) stood out.
Dose effect: Diarrhea and abdominal pain became more frequent at higher doses.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸Does lanreotide cause weight loss?
Weight loss has been reported.
Trial data: In the 4-week placebo-controlled part of the main acromegaly study, 8% of people on Somatuline Depot had a decrease in weight compared with none on placebo.
Why it happens: The label warns that somatostatin analogs can reduce the pancreas enzymes and bile needed to digest fat, which can lead to greasy or pale stools (steatorrhea), loose stools, bloating and weight loss.
What to do: If these symptoms are new or getting worse, your doctor should check whether your pancreas is making enough digestive enzymes.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸Who should not take lanreotide, and what does the label warn about?
Somatuline Depot should not be used by anyone who has had an allergic reaction to lanreotide, since swelling under the skin (angioedema) and anaphylaxis have been reported.
Gallbladder: The label warns about gallstones and their complications (gallbladder infection, bile duct infection and pancreatitis, sometimes needing gallbladder removal).
Other warnings: Blood sugar can go too high or too low (so glucose is checked when starting or changing the dose), heart rate can slow (sinus bradycardia occurred in 3% of people in pooled studies), and thyroid function can drop slightly.
Breastfeeding: Women are advised not to breastfeed during treatment and for 6 months after the last dose.
Drug interactions: Lanreotide can change how the body handles cyclosporine, bromocriptine, insulin and diabetes pills, and heart-rate-lowering drugs such as beta blockers.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸What is the difference between lanreotide and octreotide LAR?
Both are first-generation somatostatin analogs used for acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors, and the term LAR refers to the long-acting form of octreotide, not to lanreotide.
How each is given: Lanreotide (Somatuline Depot) is a ready-to-use prefilled syringe given as a deep injection under the skin of the buttock every 4 weeks, while octreotide LAR is injected into the buttock muscle every 4 weeks.
Who gives it: The current US labels say a healthcare provider gives both.
Heart valve data: The Somatuline label notes that a 1-year heart ultrasound study found no difference between lanreotide and another somatostatin analog in the development of new or worsening heart valve leakage.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸How much does Somatuline Depot cost, and is there financial help?
The FDA label does not list a price, and Trial Friend does not have a verified cost figure.
What affects cost: Somatuline Depot is a specialty injectable given by a healthcare provider, so what you pay depends on your insurance and whether the generic lanreotide is used instead.
Assistance: Ipsen's IPSEN CARES program offers copay assistance for eligible people with commercial insurance, medication at no cost for qualifying uninsured people, and referrals to specialty pharmacies.
What to do: Your care team or a program coordinator can tell you what you qualify for.
▸Is there a generic lanreotide?
Yes, an FDA-approved generic lanreotide injection, rated as substitutable for Somatuline Depot, has been available since 2024.
Cost: Generic availability can lower the cost of treatment, though coverage rules vary by insurance plan.
What to do: Ask your pharmacy or care team whether your prescription will be filled with the brand or the generic.
▸How is Somatuline Depot supplied and stored?
Somatuline Depot comes in 3 strengths and is stored in the refrigerator.
Strengths: It comes in 60 mg, 90 mg and 120 mg, each in a single-use prefilled syringe with an attached needle and an automatic safety cover.
Storage: Store it in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C), in its original package and protected from light.
Room temperature: If a sealed syringe is left at room temperature (not above 104°F or 40°C) for up to 72 hours, it can be put back in the refrigerator for later use.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11
▸What did the clinical trials of lanreotide show?
In the trials, Somatuline Depot lowered growth hormone and IGF-1 in acromegaly, delayed tumor progression in GEP-NETs, and cut rescue medication use in carcinoid syndrome.
Acromegaly: In the main acromegaly study, 63% of people on Somatuline Depot had a greater than 50% drop in growth hormone within 4 weeks, compared with none on placebo. By the end of that 1-year study, 58% had a normal IGF-1 level and 41% had both normal IGF-1 and GH at or below 2.5 ng/mL.
Second acromegaly study: In a second 48-week study, 43% reached a normal IGF-1 level.
GEP-NETs: In the GEP-NET trial of 204 people, the risk of tumor progression or death on Somatuline Depot was less than half that on placebo (hazard ratio 0.47), and the median time without progression had not been reached at 22 months versus 16.6 months on placebo.
Carcinoid syndrome: In the carcinoid syndrome trial, people used rescue medication on 34% of days versus 49% of days on placebo.
Source: FDA label for Somatuline Depot, DailyMed, effective 2024-10-11