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Endocrine & Hormonal

Acromegaly Clinical Trials and Treatments

Also called Growth Hormone Excess, Gigantism (pediatric form)

Acromegaly results from chronic growth hormone excess, most commonly from a growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma. Elevated growth hormone stimulates insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) production, which mediates most systemic effects.

View 17 active trialsMatch me to a trial

About Acromegaly

Acromegaly results from chronic growth hormone excess, most commonly from a growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma. Elevated growth hormone stimulates insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) production, which mediates most systemic effects. The gradual onset makes early recognition difficult. Characteristic features include progressive growth of hands and feet, coarsening of facial features with prognathism (jaw protrusion), increased nose size, lip thickening, and increased spacing between teeth.

Systemic complications are severe: cardiovascular disease (hypertension, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias) occurs in 30-60%, type 2 diabetes in 20-35%, and arthritis in 25%. Sleep apnea develops in 40-70% due to upper airway obstruction from soft tissue overgrowth. Malignancy risk is increased, particularly colon and thyroid cancer. Neurologic complications can result from mass effect of the adenoma, including vision loss from optic chiasm compression and headaches.

Diagnosis requires demonstration of non-suppressed growth hormone and elevated IGF-1. Without treatment, life expectancy is reduced by approximately 10 years.

Common Symptoms of Acromegaly

Recognizing the signs of Acromegaly early can lead to faster diagnosis and better outcomes. Symptoms may vary in severity from person to person. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following, consider speaking with a specialist.

  • Enlarged hands and feet requiring larger shoe and glove sizes
  • Coarse facial features with enlarged nose, lips, and forehead
  • Sleep apnea and snoring from soft tissue overgrowth in the airway
  • Persistent headaches from pituitary tumor pressure
  • Joint pain and arthritis
  • Excessive sweating, skin tags, and fatigue
  • Vision changes or loss of peripheral vision from optic nerve compression
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome with numbness and tingling
  • Increased spacing between teeth and jaw protrusion
  • Deepening of the voice

Who Acromegaly Affects

Acromegaly typically manifests in middle-aged adults (40-65 years) due to the gradual onset of symptoms, though it can develop at any age. It affects males and females equally. The disease occurs across all racial and ethnic groups.

Most cases (90-95%) result from a pituitary adenoma secreting growth hormone. Less commonly, ectopic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) or growth hormone production from non-pituitary tumors occurs.

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FDA-Approved Treatments for Acromegaly

There are currently 6 FDA-approved medications for Acromegaly. These therapies represent the current standard of care and may be used alongside or compared against investigational treatments in active clinical trials.

pasireotide
Recordati Rare Diseases
Official site
paltusotine
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (acquired Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, September 2026)
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octreotide (oral capsules)
Chiesi (originally Chiasma)
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Source: openFDA drug labeling data. This list may not include all treatments. Always consult your doctor.

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Help Paying for Acromegaly Treatment

Charity funds and drugmaker programs for Acromegaly, checked at the source. Pick your insurance to see what fits.

Your insurance
Charity funds
  • From a charity · TotalAssist (formerly PAN Foundation)
    Acromegaly fund
    Open

    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 Fund
    Acromegaly fund
    Waitlist

    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…”
Status as each foundation showed it on September 28, 2026.

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Side Effect Explorer

Real-world side effect reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Includes both FDA-approved drugs and investigational therapies from active clinical trials. Click any drug to see what patients reported.

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Genetic Testing

Genetic testing can confirm a diagnosis, guide treatment decisions, and identify family members who may be at risk.

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Trusted Acromegaly Resources

Reputable organizations and medical references for learning more about Acromegaly, including disease registries, foundation resources, and clinical guidelines.

FDA decision ahead
The FDA is due to decide on Oclaiz (octreotide subcutaneous depot) (Camurus) for Acromegaly by December 18, 2026. Resubmitted after a June 10, 2026 complete response letter, the second for this application, which cited findings from an inspection at a third-party manufacturing site and raised no efficacy or safety concerns. The FDA accepted the resubmission on July 17, 2026. Would be the first self-administered long-acting octreotide in the US; already approved in the EU as Oczyesa.
See all upcoming rare disease FDA decisions →

Active Clinical Trials for Acromegaly

Use this Acromegaly clinical trial finder to see the 12 studies recruiting patients and 5 opening soon in the United States and worldwide, with eligibility criteria in plain English. These studies play a critical role in advancing care for endocrine & hormonal conditions and may offer access to treatments not yet widely available. Each trial below is sourced directly from ClinicalTrials.gov, with eligibility criteria translated into plain English to help patients and caregivers evaluate whether a study may be a fit.

TrialsSite mapPipeline timelineMedication checker

Note: Trial recruitment statuses on ClinicalTrials.gov may not immediately reflect recent FDA decisions, sponsor announcements, or enrollment changes. Always confirm a trial's current status directly with the study coordinator before making plans.

17 active trials worldwide
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RECRUITINGRecently updatedNCT07583563

An Observational Study of Octreotide Subcutaneous Depot in Patients With Acromegaly

Intervention: Octreotide subcutaneous depot

Sponsor: Camurus AB

The purpose of this study is to collect long-term (up to two years) safety and effectiveness of octreotide subcutaneous depot in patients with acromegaly in the real-world setting.

Ages 18 Years+6 locations
Started Jun 2026Updated 4 days agoEst. Jun 2029 (~2y 9m)
RECRUITINGRecently updatedNCT00001595

An Investigation of Pituitary Tumors and Related Hypothalmic Disorders

Intervention: Tissue specimen collection, MRI

Sponsor: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

There is a variety of tumors affecting the pituitary gland in childhood; some of these tumors (eg craniopharyngioma) are included among the most common central nervous system tumors in childhood. The gene(s) involved in the pathogenesis of these tumors are largely not known; thei...

Ages 2 Years – 70 Years1 location
Started Apr 1997Updated 1 week agoCompletion date not listed
RECRUITINGPHASE3Recently updatedNCT06930625

A Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Debio 4126 in Participants With Acromegaly Previously Treated With Somatostatin Analogs

Intervention: Debio 4126, Placebo

Sponsor: Debiopharm International SA

The primary purpose of this study is to assess the effect of Debio 4126 in the maintenance of the levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) ≤1x upper limit of normal (ULN) in the double-blind period (Period 1) in comparison to placebo at week 36.

Ages 18 Years+73 locations
Started Nov 2025Updated 1 week agoEst. Jun 2028 (~1y 9m)
RECRUITINGPHASE2Recently updatedNCT07641179

A Study to Evaluate MAR002 for Acromegaly

Intervention: MAR002, Placebo

Sponsor: Marea Therapeutics

Evaluate the safety and tolerability of subcutaneous (SC) administration of MAR002 in participants with acromegaly

Ages 18 Years – 75 Years3 locations
Started Jul 2026Updated 2 weeks agoEst. Aug 2027 (~11 months)
NOT YET RECRUITINGPHASE3Recently updatedNCT07813351

PRESTO: A Phase III Randomised Controlled Trial of Dose-escalated Proton Beam Therapy Versus Standard of Care Radiotherapy for Functioning Pituitary Tumours

Intervention: Standard dose Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Standard dose Proton Beam Therapy (PBT), Escalated dose Proton Beam Therapy (PBT)

Sponsor: University College, London

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a higher dose of radiotherapy can lead to better outcomes for participants with functioning pituitary tumours. The main question it aims to answer is whether a greater proportion of participants will achieve normal hormone le...

Ages 18 Years+
Started Sep 2026Updated 2 weeks agoEst. Sep 2032 (~6 years)
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Active trial locations14 cities in the US
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Trial Pipeline

Jan 2021 to Sep 2031
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Can I Join an Acromegaly Clinical Trial While Taking My Current Medications?

This medication conflict checker helps acromegaly patients find out if their current medications could affect clinical trial eligibility. Select one or more medications below to instantly screen active trials for potential conflicts.

Acromegaly treatment often involves multiple medications working together: a somatostatin analog to lower growth hormone, possibly pegvisomant or a dopamine agonist as add-on therapy, plus medications for the comorbidities that come with the disease like diabetes, hypertension, and joint pain. Each clinical trial publishes eligibility criteria that may exclude specific drugs or drug classes, and these vary significantly from trial to trial.

Somatostatin Analogs (SRLs)
Sandostatin LAR, Somatuline Depot, Signifor LAR, Mycapssa, Palsonify — trials testing new mechanisms of action frequently exclude patients on current SRL therapy or require a washout period of 3 to 6 months. Octreotide, lanreotide, pasireotide, oral octreotide, and paltusotine are the most commonly excluded drugs in acromegaly trials.
GH Receptor Antagonist
Somavert (pegvisomant) — because pegvisomant normalizes IGF-1 through a different mechanism than SRLs, many trials exclude it to avoid confounding results. Washout periods of 8 weeks to 12 months are common. Some combination studies actually require patients to be on a stable SRL dose while excluding pegvisomant.
Dopamine Agonists
Dostinex (cabergoline), Parlodel (bromocriptine) — used as adjunctive therapy in patients with mild IGF-1 elevation or co-secreting prolactin. Trials may exclude dopamine agonists or require a 4-week to 3-month washout. Shorter washout than SRLs due to faster clearance.
Comorbidity Medications
Diabetes, blood pressure, pain, and mood medications — acromegaly commonly causes diabetes (30-50% of patients), hypertension (37-40%), joint pain, and depression. These comorbidity medications are rarely the reason a trial excludes you. When they appear in eligibility criteria, the language usually says uncontrolled diabetes or unstable blood pressure rather than banning the medications outright.
If you take pasireotide (Signifor): a note about diabetes medications
Pasireotide causes hyperglycemia in 30-70% of patients, so many people on Signifor also take metformin, insulin, or other diabetes medications specifically because of their acromegaly treatment. If the checker flags your diabetes medication at low confidence, that's because the trial mentions diabetes or glucose in broad terms. It doesn't necessarily mean you're excluded. The study team will evaluate your specific situation, including whether your diabetes is medication-induced and well-controlled.
A conflict doesn't always mean you can't join
Many conflicts come with a washout period, meaning you may be able to participate if you stop the medication for a certain amount of time before the trial starts. For example, a trial might require stopping octreotide for 6 months or pegvisomant for 8 weeks. Whether a washout is safe and feasible depends on your disease activity and should always be discussed with your endocrinologist. The checker shows washout periods when the trial specifies them.
Had pituitary surgery? Your hormone replacements are usually allowed
Post-surgical patients often take hydrocortisone, levothyroxine, desmopressin, or sex hormones to replace what the pituitary gland no longer produces. Even when a trial excludes glucocorticoids or steroids, there is typically an exception for physiologic replacement doses. If the checker flags one of your replacement hormones, check the excerpt text carefully. You'll often see language like except physiologic replacement or stable hormone substitution permitted.
Don't see your medication listed?
The checker covers 34 medications across 11 categories that are most relevant to acromegaly patients, including acromegaly-specific treatments, diabetes medications, blood pressure medications, pain medications, psychiatric medications, thyroid replacement, and post-surgical hormone replacement. If your medication isn't in the list, that means we haven't found it commonly mentioned in acromegaly trial exclusion criteria. You should still tell the study team about all medications you take when you contact them.
How the medication conflict checker works: This free tool helps acromegaly patients learn if their current medications could affect clinical trial eligibility. It scans the published eligibility criteria of every active acromegaly clinical trial and flags which ones may exclude your specific treatment. Matches are categorized by confidence level: high confidence means the trial names your exact drug, medium confidence means it references your drug class, and low confidence means it uses broad category language that may or may not apply to you. Select one or more of your medications above to instantly see which trials you may still qualify for and which ones could be a problem. Always confirm eligibility directly with the study team, as final decisions involve your complete medical history, hormone levels, imaging, and your endocrinologist's assessment.

Across 1,853 open rare disease treatment trials, a third exclude people over a medication they commonly take. See which medications and diseases, in our September 2026 analysis.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Always talk to your doctor before considering a clinical trial.

Patient Communities

Connect with other Acromegaly patients, caregivers, and advocacy groups across Facebook groups, Reddit communities, and YouTube channels. These patient communities offer peer support, shared experiences, caregiver resources, and real-time discussion about Acromegaly treatments, clinical trial participation, and day-to-day disease management.

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Events

In-person events for Acromegaly patients, caregivers, and families. Meet others living with acromegaly, hear from leading endocrinologists and neurosurgeons, and learn about the latest in pituitary research, treatment, and long-term care.

Barrow Neurological Institute
2910 N 3rd AvePhoenixAZ85013US
Acromegaly Community
2026 International Acromegaly Community Conference at Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
Featured EventOctober 16–18, 2026 · Phoenix, AZ

2026 International Acromegaly Community Conference

Hosted by Acromegaly Community · Barrow Neurological Institute, 2910 N 3rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ · In-person only

The 2026 International Acromegaly Community Conference is a three-day patient education gathering held at the world-renowned Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Patients, caregivers, and families from around the world come together to hear from leading pituitary specialists, connect with other people living with acromegaly, and share the practical realities of life after diagnosis.

Expected programming covers the full acromegaly care pathway: diagnostic delays, transsphenoidal surgery, medical therapy options (somatostatin analogs, GH receptor antagonists, dopamine agonists), radiation, long-term hormone management, comorbidities like sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease, and mental health. Barrow's pituitary center is one of the highest-volume programs in the United States, which makes the venue especially relevant for patients weighing surgical options.

Registration is in-person only, one person per registration. Acromegaly is rare, and many attendees report that the conference is the first time they meet another person with the disease face to face. For recently diagnosed patients and families still making sense of pituitary adenoma care, the conference is one of the few opportunities to get community-level and specialist-level information in the same room.

Event details are sourced from the Acromegaly Community Eventbrite listing. Dates, pricing, venue logistics, and programming are subject to change — please confirm current information on the official event page before making travel plans.

Related Endocrine & Hormonal Conditions

Other rare diseases in the endocrine & hormonal category. Patients with Acromegaly may find relevant research, shared treatment pathways, or overlapping clinical trials among these related conditions.

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