Sandostatin® lar

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEDICAL USE OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT SANDOSTATIN® LAR (SANDOSTATIN® LAR®)

Composition:

Active substance: octreotide as octreotide acetate;

1 vial containing 10 mg powder contains 11.2 mg octreotide acetate, equivalent to 10 mg octreotide;

1 vial containing 20 mg powder contains 22.4 mg octreotide acetate, equivalent to 20 mg octreotide;

1 vial containing 30 mg powder contains 33.6 mg octreotide acetate, equivalent to 30 mg octreotide;

Excipients: poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide), mannitol (E 421);

solvent for preparation of injectable suspension:

1 pre-filled syringe with a volume of 2.0 ml contains sodium carmellose (sodium carboxymethylcellulose), mannitol (E 421), water for injections, poloxamer 188.

Pharmaceutical form. Powder for suspension for injection in a set with solvent.

Main physicochemical properties. Powder from white to white with a yellowish tinge. Solvent: from clear to no more intensely opalescent than the European Pharmacopoeia reference suspension, solution from colorless to slightly yellow or brownish.

Pharmacotherapeutic group. Hormone preparations for systemic use (except sex hormones and insulin). Pituitary, hypothalamic hormones and their analogues. Hypothalamic hormones. Somatostatin and analogues. Octreotide.

ATC code H01C B02.

Pharmacological properties.

Pharmacodynamics.

Octreotide is a synthetic octapeptide, a derivative of the natural hormone somatostatin, with similar pharmacological effects but with a significantly longer duration of action. The drug suppresses pathologically elevated secretion of growth hormone (GH), as well as peptides and serotonin produced by the gastroenteropancreatic endocrine system.

Studies in animals have shown that octreotide is a more potent inhibitor of GH, glucagon, and insulin secretion than somatostatin; the drug inhibits GH and glucagon secretion with greater selectivity.

In healthy volunteers, octreotide, like somatost0atin, suppresses:

• GH secretion stimulated by arginine, physical exercise, and insulin-induced hypoglycemia;
• food-stimulated secretion of insulin, glucagon, gastrin, and other peptides of the gastroenteropancreatic endocrine system, as well as arginine-stimulated insulin and glucagon secretion;
• thyrotropin (TSH) secretion stimulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH).

Unlike somatostatin, octreotide suppresses GH secretion more than insulin secretion, and its administration is not accompanied by rebound hypersecretion of hormones (e.g., GH in patients with acromegaly).

In patients with acromegaly, Sandostatin® LAR, a depot formulation of octreotide, can be administered every 4 weeks, providing sustained therapeutic serum levels of octreotide, consistently reducing GH levels and normalizing serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations in most patients. In most patients, Sandostatin® LAR markedly reduces clinical manifestations of the disease, such as headache, excessive sweating, paresthesia, fatigue, osteoarthralgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome. In a significant proportion (50%) of previously untreated patients with acromegaly and pituitary adenoma with GH hypersecretion, treatment with Sandostatin® LAR leads to a reduction in tumor volume by >20%. Furthermore, short-term studies indicate that octreotide administration prior to surgical treatment in some patients with pituitary adenoma may result in tumor shrinkage. However, surgical treatment should not be delayed.

In patients with endocrine-active tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas, treatment with Sandostatin® LAR provides sustained control of various clinical symptoms associated with the disease. The effects of octreotide on different types of endocrine-active gastrointestinal and pancreatic tumors are described below.

Carcinoid tumors.

Administration of octreotide may lead to symptom relief, particularly flushing and diarrhea. In many cases, this is accompanied by a reduction in plasma serotonin concentration and decreased urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid.

Tumors characterized by hyperproduction of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).

The biochemical hallmark of these tumors is excessive VIP synthesis. In most cases, octreotide treatment reduces the severity of secretory diarrhea typical of this condition, thereby improving the patient's quality of life. This is accompanied by a reduction in associated electrolyte imbalances, such as hypokalemia, allowing discontinuation of enteral and parenteral fluid and electrolyte replacement. In some patients, computed tomography shows slowed or halted tumor progression and even reduction in tumor size, particularly liver metastases. Clinical improvement is usually accompanied by decreased (down to normal levels) plasma VIP concentration.

Glucagonomas.

Octreotide administration leads in most cases to significant reduction of necrolytic migratory rash, which is characteristic of this condition. Octreotide has no significant effect on the severity of diabetes mellitus, frequently observed in glucagonomas, and usually does not reduce the need for insulin or oral antidiabetic agents. In patients with diarrhea, octreotide reduces its severity, accompanied by increased body weight.

With octreotide use, a rapid decrease in plasma glucagon concentration is often observed, although this effect is not sustained during long-term treatment. Nevertheless, symptomatic improvement remains stable over a prolonged period.

Gastrinomas / Zollinger–Ellison syndrome.

Proton pump inhibitors or histamine H2-receptor antagonists are primarily used to suppress gastric acid hypersecretion. However, proton pump inhibitors or H2-receptor antagonists do not always adequately alleviate diarrhea, which is also an important symptom of the disease. In some patients, Sandostatin® LAR contributes to further reduction in gastric acid hypersecretion and clinical improvement, including diarrhea, by reducing elevated gastrin concentrations.

Insulinomas.

Octreotide administration reduces the level of immunoreactive insulin in the blood. In patients with resectable tumors, octreotide may help restore and maintain normoglycemia in the preoperative period. In patients with unresectable benign and malignant tumors, glycemic control may improve even without sustained long-term reduction in blood insulin levels.

Metastatic neuroendocrine intestinal tumors or primary tumors of unknown origin, when other primary sites, except the intestine, have been excluded.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial (PROMID) demonstrated that Sandostatin® LAR inhibits tumor growth in patients with metastatic midgut neuroendocrine tumors (small intestine, appendix, cecum, and ascending colon). A total of 85 patients were randomized to receive either Sandostatin® LAR 30 mg every 4 weeks (n = 42) or placebo (n = 43) for up to 18 months or until tumor progression or death.

Key inclusion criteria were: no prior treatment, histologically confirmed diagnosis, locally unresectable or metastatic well-differentiated tumors; functionally active or inactive neuroendocrine tumors/carcinomas; primary tumor located in the midgut (small intestine, appendix, cecum, ascending colon) or of unknown primary origin attributed to the midgut, provided primary sites in the pancreas, thorax, or other locations were excluded.

The primary endpoint was time to tumor progression or death due to tumor (TTP).

An intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis of all randomized patients showed 26 events of tumor progression or tumor-related death in the Sandostatin® LAR group versus 41 events in the placebo group (HR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.19–0.55; p = 0.000015).

In a conservative ITT analysis, excluding 3 patients who were randomized but did not meet eligibility criteria, 26 and 40 events of tumor progression or tumor-related death were observed in the Sandostatin® LAR and placebo groups, respectively (HR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.20–0.59; p-value = 0.000072; figure).

In the conservative ITT (cITT) analysis population, with 3 patients excluded at randomization, 26 and 40 events of tumor progression or tumor-related death were observed in the Sandostatin® LAR and placebo groups, respectively.

Median time to tumor progression was 14.3 months (95% CI: 11.0–28.8 months) in the Sandostatin® LAR group and 6.0 months (95% CI: 3.7–9.4 months) in the placebo group.

In the per-protocol population analysis, with additional patients excluded at the end of study therapy, 19 and 38 events of tumor progression or tumor-related death were observed in the Sandostatin® LAR and placebo groups, respectively (HR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.13–0.45; p-value = 0.0000036).

Figure. Kaplan–Meier estimate of time to tumor progression in Sandostatin® LAR and placebo groups (conservative ITT analysis population)

Table 1

Time to tumor progression parameters based on population analysis

The effect of therapy was similar in patients with functionally active (HR=0.23; 95% CI: 0.09–0.57) and inactive tumors (HR=0.25; 95% CI: 0.10 – 0.59). After 6 months of treatment, stable disease was observed in 66% of patients in the Sandostatin® LAR group and in 37% of patients in the placebo group.

Due to the demonstrated clinical efficacy of Sandostatin® LAR established in this pre-planned interim analysis, enrollment in the study was terminated.

The safety profile of Sandostatin® LAR in this study was consistent with its established safety profile.

Pharmacokinetics.

After a single intramuscular injection of Sandostatin® LAR, a transient initial peak of octreotide concentration in serum is reached within 1 hour after administration, followed by a decline within 24 hours to undetectable levels. After this initial peak on Day 1, octreotide concentrations remain subtherapeutic in most patients for the next 7 days. Thereafter, octreotide concentration rises again, reaching a plateau around Day 14 and remaining at this level for the subsequent 3 – 4 weeks. The peak concentration on Day 1 is lower than the plateau-phase concentrations and accounts for no more than 0.5% of the total daily release of the drug on Day 1. Approximately 42 days after administration, octreotide concentration slowly declines, paralleling the terminal degradation phase of the polymer matrix of the formulation.

In patients with acromegaly, the plateau-phase octreotide concentrations after a single dose of Sandostatin® LAR at 10, 20, or 30 mg were 358, 926, and 1710 ng/L, respectively. The steady-state serum octreotide concentration achieved after three injections given at 4-week intervals is 1.6 to 1.8 times higher, reaching up to 1557 ng/L and 2384 ng/L after repeated administration of 20 mg and 30 mg of Sandostatin® LAR, respectively.

In patients with carcinoid tumors, the arithmetic mean (and median) serum octreotide concentrations at steady state after administration of 10, 20, and 30 mg doses of Sandostatin® LAR were 1231 (894), 2620 (2270), and 3928 (3010) ng/L, respectively.

There is no accumulation of octreotide expected from overlapping release profiles during 28-day injections of Sandostatin® LAR.

The pharmacokinetic profile of octreotide after Sandostatin® LAR injection reflects the release from the polymer matrix and its subsequent degradation. Once released into systemic circulation, octreotide distributes according to its pharmacokinetic properties as described for subcutaneous administration. The volume of distribution of octreotide at steady state is 0.27 L/kg, and total clearance is 160 mL/min. Plasma protein binding is approximately 65%, while binding to blood cells is negligible.

Clinical characteristics.

Indications.

Acromegaly (in patients with prior experience of treatment with Sandostatin®):

• treatment of the main manifestations of the disease when adequate response has not been achieved with surgical treatment or radiotherapy;
• treatment between courses of radiotherapy until its effectiveness is achieved.

Symptoms of functional gastrointestinal endocrine tumors (in patients with prior experience of treatment with Sandostatin®):

• carcinoid tumors with evident carcinoid syndrome;
• VIPomas;
• glucagonomas;
• gastrinomas / Zollinger-Ellison syndrome;
• insulinomas, for control of hypoglycemia in the preoperative period, as well as for maintenance therapy;
• somatoliberinomas (tumors producing growth hormone-releasing factor).

Metastatic neuroendocrine intestinal tumors or tumors with unknown primary site when other primary locations, except intestinal, have been excluded.

Contraindications.

Hypersensitivity to octreotide or to any of the excipients of the medicinal product (including solvent).

Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction.

Dosage adjustment of medicinal products such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or agents for fluid and electrolyte balance control may be required during concomitant treatment with Sandostatin® LAR.

Dosage adjustment of insulin and antidiabetic medicinal products may be required during concomitant treatment with Sandostatin® LAR.

Octreotide has been shown to reduce intestinal absorption of cyclosporine and to delay absorption of cimetidine.

Concomitant administration of octreotide and bromocriptine increases the bioavailability of bromocriptine.

Limited published data suggest that somatostatin analogs may reduce the metabolic clearance of substances metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, possibly due to inhibition of growth hormone (GH) secretion. Since such an effect of octreotide cannot be excluded, caution should be exercised when using other medicinal products that are primarily metabolized by CYP3A4, as well as those with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., quinidine, terfenadine).

Special precautions for use.

General

Since pituitary tumors secreting GH may occasionally increase in size, causing serious complications (e.g., visual field defects), careful monitoring of all patients is essential. If signs of tumor enlargement occur, alternative treatment options should be considered.

The therapeutic effect of lowering GH levels and normalization of IGF-1 concentrations in women with acromegaly may potentially restore fertility. During octreotide treatment, women of childbearing potential should be advised to use adequate contraceptive methods if necessary.

Thyroid function should be monitored in patients receiving long-term octreotide therapy.

Liver function should be monitored during octreotide therapy.

Cardiovascular effects

Bradycardia has been frequently reported. Dose adjustments of medications such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or drugs affecting fluid or electrolyte balance may be necessary.

Cases of atrioventricular block (including complete atrioventricular block) have been observed in patients receiving high-dose continuous infusion (100 micrograms/hour) and in patients receiving intravenous bolus octreotide (50 micrograms bolus followed by 50 micrograms/hour continuous infusion). Therefore, the maximum dose of 50 micrograms/hour should not be exceeded (see section "Dosage and administration"). Patients receiving high-dose intravenous octreotide should be under appropriate cardiac monitoring.

Gallbladder-related effects

Cholelithiasis is the most common complication of Sandostatin® therapy and may be associated with cholecystitis and gallbladder wall thickening (see section "Adverse reactions"). Additionally, cases of cholangitis as a complication of cholelithiasis have been reported in patients treated with Sandostatin® LAR during the post-marketing period. Ultrasound examination of the gallbladder is recommended before initiating Sandostatin® LAR therapy and approximately every 6 months thereafter.

Pancreatic function

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) has been observed in some patients receiving octreotide therapy for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Symptoms of EPI may include steatorrhea, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, and weight loss. Screening and appropriate management of EPI according to clinical guidelines should be considered in symptomatic patients.

Glucose metabolism

Due to suppression of GH levels and inhibition of glucagon and insulin release, Sandostatin® LAR may alter glucose regulation. Postprandial glucose tolerance may be impaired. In some cases, prolonged administration may lead to persistent hyperglycemia, as observed in patients receiving subcutaneous Sandostatin®. Hypoglycemia may also occur.

In patients with concomitant type 1 diabetes mellitus, Sandostatin® LAR may affect glucose regulation, reducing insulin requirements. In non-diabetic patients and in patients with type 2 diabetes with partially preserved insulin reserves, subcutaneous Sandostatin® may lead to increased postprandial glycemia. Therefore, monitoring of glucose tolerance and antidiabetic therapy is recommended.

Since octreotide has a relatively greater inhibitory effect on GH and glucagon compared to insulin, and due to its shorter inhibitory effect on insulin secretion, octreotide may increase the severity and duration of hypoglycemia in patients with insulinoma. These patients should be closely monitored.

Nutrition

Octreotide may impair absorption of dietary fats in some patients.

Decreased vitamin B12 levels and abnormal Schilling test results have been observed in some patients receiving octreotide therapy. Vitamin B12 levels should be monitored during Sandostatin® LAR therapy in patients with a history of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Sodium content

Sandostatin® LAR contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per dose and can therefore be considered sodium-free.

Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Data on the use of octreotide in pregnant women are limited (fewer than 300 pregnancy outcomes), and in approximately one-third of cases, pregnancy outcomes are unknown. Most reports were obtained after post-marketing use of octreotide, and the proportion of pregnant women among female patients with acromegaly exceeded 50%. Most women received octreotide during the first trimester of pregnancy at doses of 100–1200 micrograms/day as subcutaneous Sandostatin® or 10–40 mg/month of Sandostatin® LAR. Congenital anomalies were reported in approximately 4% of pregnancies with known outcomes. No causal relationship with octreotide was suspected in these cases.

Animal studies did not reveal direct or indirect harmful effects with regard to reproductive toxicity.

As a precautionary measure, use of Sandostatin® during pregnancy should be avoided.

Breastfeeding

It is unknown whether octreotide passes into human breast milk. Animal studies have shown excretion of octreotide into breast milk. Women receiving Sandostatin® LAR therapy should discontinue breastfeeding.

Fertility
It is unknown whether octreotide affects human fertility. In newborn males exposed to the drug during pregnancy and breastfeeding, delayed testicular descent has been observed. However, in experimental studies in male and female rats, octreotide did not affect fertility at doses up to 1 mg/kg body weight per day.

Ability to influence reaction speed when driving or operating machinery.

Sandostatin® LAR has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive or operate machinery. Patients should be advised to exercise caution when driving or operating machinery if they experience dizziness, asthenia/fatigue, or headache during treatment with Sandostatin® LAR.

Method of Administration and Dosage

Acromegaly

Treatment with Sandostatin® LAR is recommended to begin with 20 mg administered every 4 weeks over a 3-month period. Patients currently treated with Sandostatin® may start Sandostatin® LAR the day following the last subcutaneous Sandostatin® injection. Subsequent dose adjustments should be based on plasma growth hormone (GH) levels, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations, and clinical signs of the disease.

For patients in whom clinical manifestations and biochemical parameters (GH, IGF-1) are not adequately controlled within this 3-month period (GH concentrations remain above 2.5 µg/L), the dose may be increased to 30 mg every 4 weeks. If, after a 3-month treatment period with 30 mg, GH and IGF-1 concentrations and/or symptoms are still not adequately controlled, the dose may be increased to 40 mg every 4 weeks.

For patients in whom GH concentration remains below 1 µg/L after 3 months of treatment with 20 mg, IGF-1 levels have normalized, and previous symptoms of acromegaly have resolved, administration of 10 mg Sandostatin® LAR every 4 weeks may be considered. However, in such patients receiving a lower dose of Sandostatin® LAR, close monitoring of GH and IGF-1 concentrations and clinical symptoms of the disease is recommended.

Assessment of GH and IGF-1 concentrations in patients receiving a stable dose of Sandostatin® LAR should be performed every 6 months.

Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors

Treatment of patients with symptoms related to hormonally active neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas

Therapy is recommended to begin with 20 mg of Sandostatin® LAR administered every 4 weeks for 3 months. During the first 2 weeks after the initial Sandostatin® LAR injection, subcutaneous administration of Sandostatin® should continue at the previously effective dose.

For patients in whom symptoms and biological markers are adequately controlled after 3 months of treatment, the dose of Sandostatin® LAR may be reduced to 10 mg every 4 weeks.

For patients in whom symptoms and biological markers are only partially controlled after 3 months of treatment, the dose may be increased to 30 mg every 4 weeks.

On days when symptoms related to gastrointestinal or pancreatic tumors worsen during Sandostatin® LAR treatment, additional subcutaneous administration of Sandostatin® at the dose previously used before initiation of Sandostatin® LAR therapy is recommended. This may occur primarily during the first 2 months of treatment, until therapeutic concentrations of octreotide are achieved.

Treatment of patients with metastatic midgut neuroendocrine tumors or tumors of unknown primary origin (when other primary sites except midgut have been excluded)

The recommended dose of Sandostatin® LAR is 30 mg once every 4 weeks. Sandostatin® LAR therapy for tumor control should be continued even in the absence of disease progression.

Use in patients with renal impairment

Renal impairment does not affect the overall exposure to octreotide when administered as subcutaneous Sandostatin®. Therefore, no dose adjustment of Sandostatin® LAR is required in these patients.

Use in patients with hepatic impairment

Studies with subcutaneous and intravenous administration of Sandostatin® have shown that drug elimination may be reduced in patients with liver cirrhosis, but not in patients with hepatic steatosis. In some cases, dose adjustment of Sandostatin® LAR may be necessary in patients with hepatic impairment.

Use in elderly patients

Studies with subcutaneous administration of Sandostatin® have shown that dose adjustment is not required for patients aged 65 years and older.

Method of Administration

Sandostatin® LAR is intended for long-term treatment as directed by a physician.

To minimize injection site pain, it is recommended to allow Sandostatin® LAR to reach room temperature before administration.

To prepare the Sandostatin® LAR suspension and administer deep intramuscular injection into the gluteal muscle, components of the injection kit should be used.

Sandostatin® LAR is administered as a deep intramuscular injection. When repeated administration is required, the injection site should be alternated between the right and left gluteal muscles.

Instructions for Intramuscular Injection of Sandostatin® LAR

for deep intramuscular injection into the gluteal muscle only:

Package Contents:

**

**

a one vial containing Sandostatin® LAR medication
b one pre-filled syringe with solvent
c one vial adapter in a plastic container
d one safety injection needle (0.91 mm × 38.1 mm; 19G × 1.5") in a protective cap

Children.

The use of Sandostatin® LAR in children is contraindicated due to the lack of clinical experience.

Overdose.

A limited number of accidental overdoses of Sandostatin® LAR (dose range 100–163 mg/month) have been reported. The only adverse event reported was flushing. There have also been reports of cancer patients receiving Sandostatin® LAR doses up to 60 mg/month and up to 90 mg every 2 weeks. These doses were generally well tolerated. However, adverse events such as frequent urination, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and loss of concentration have been observed.

Treatment is symptomatic.

Adverse reactions.

Short description of the drug safety profile

The most common adverse reactions associated with octreotide treatment are those affecting the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, liver and gallbladder, as well as metabolism and nutrition.

The most frequently reported adverse reactions during clinical trials with octreotide were diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, flatulence, headache, cholelithiasis, hyperglycemia, and constipation. Other common adverse reactions included dizziness, injection site pain, gallstones, thyroid dysfunction (e.g., decreased levels of TSH, decreased levels of total T4 and free T4), loose stools, impaired glucose tolerance, vomiting, asthenia, and hypoglycemia.

Occasionally, gastrointestinal adverse effects may mimic acute intestinal obstruction with progressive abdominal distension, severe epigastric pain, tenderness, and abdominal muscle rigidity.

Although fecal fat excretion may increase, there is no evidence that long-term treatment with Sandostatin® LAR leads to nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorption.

Acute pancreatitis has been reported very rarely, occurring within the first hours or days of Sandostatin® LAR treatment and resolving upon discontinuation of the drug. In addition, cases of pancreatitis secondary to cholelithiasis have been reported in patients receiving long-term Sandostatin® LAR therapy.

ECG changes such as QT interval prolongation, axis deviation, early repolarization, low voltage, R/S transition, early R-wave progression, and non-specific ST-T wave changes have been observed in patients with acromegaly as well as in those with carcinoid syndrome during octreotide therapy. A causal relationship between these findings and octreotide has not been established, as many of these patients have underlying cardiovascular disease.

The adverse reactions listed below were observed during clinical trials of octreotide and are presented by frequency: very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100, < 1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000, < 1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000, < 1/1,000); very rare (< 1/10,000), including isolated case reports. Within each frequency category, adverse reactions are listed in order of decreasing severity.

Adverse reactions reported during clinical studies

Post-marketing studies

Adverse reactions reported during the post-marketing period were reported spontaneously and voluntarily; therefore, it is not always possible to reliably determine their frequency or establish a causal relationship with the use of the medicinal product.

Adverse reactions reported in spontaneous reports:

Description of some adverse reactions

Gallbladder and related reactions

Somatostatin analogues may suppress gallbladder contractility and reduce bile secretion, which can lead to gallbladder pathology or sludge formation. Gallstone formation has been reported in 15–30% of recipients receiving subcutaneous Sandostatin® in long-term studies. The prevalence in the general population (aged 40 to 60 years) is 5–20%. Long-term exposure to Sandostatin® LAR in patients with acromegaly or gastroenteropancreatic tumours indicates that treatment with Sandostatin® LAR does not increase the frequency of gallstone formation compared to treatment with subcutaneously administered formulations. Gallstone formation is usually asymptomatic; symptomatic gallstone management includes dissolution therapy and surgical intervention.

Gastrointestinal disorders

In isolated cases, gastrointestinal adverse reactions may mimic acute intestinal obstruction, including progressive abdominal distension, severe epigastric pain, abdominal tenderness, and muscular rigidity.

It is known that the frequency of gastrointestinal adverse reactions decreases with continued treatment.

Hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions

During the post-marketing period, hypersensitivity and allergic reactions have been reported, predominantly affecting the skin, and rarely the oral cavity and respiratory tract. Isolated cases of anaphylactic shock have been reported.

Injection site reactions

Patients receiving Sandostatin® LAR have commonly reported the following injection site reactions: pain, redness, bleeding, itching, swelling, or induration; in most cases, no medical intervention was required.

Metabolism and nutrition disorders

Although fecal fat excretion may increase, there is currently no evidence that long-term octreotide treatment leads to nutrient deficiency due to malabsorption.

Pancreatic disorders

Very rare cases of acute pancreatitis occurring within the first hours or days after subcutaneous administration of Sandostatin® and resolving after discontinuation of the drug have been reported. Additionally, cases of pancreatitis associated with cholelithiasis have been observed during prolonged subcutaneous administration of Sandostatin®.

Cardiovascular disorders

Bradycardia is a common adverse effect during treatment with somatostatin analogues. ECG studies in patients with acromegaly and patients with carcinoid syndrome treated with the drug have shown QT interval prolongation, deviation of the cardiac axis, early repolarization, low-voltage ECG pattern, shift of the transition zone, early R wave, and non-specific ST segment and T wave changes. Since many of these patients have underlying heart disease, a causal relationship between these findings and octreotide acetate has not been established.

Thrombocytopenia

During the post-marketing period, thrombocytopenia has been reported, particularly during treatment with Sandostatin® (intravenous) in patients with liver cirrhosis, as well as during treatment with Sandostatin® LAR. This phenomenon is considered reversible upon discontinuation of treatment.

Reporting suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after medicinal product authorization is important. It allows continuous monitoring of the benefit-risk balance of the drug.

Shelf life. 3 years.

Do not use the medicinal product after the expiry date stated on the packaging.

Storage conditions.

Store in the original packaging at 2–8°C.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Sandostatin® LAR may be stored at temperatures below 25°C on the day of injection.

The suspension should be prepared exclusively immediately before intramuscular injection.

Incompatibilities.

Due to lack of compatibility studies, Sandostatin® LAR must not be mixed with other medicinal products.

Packaging.

Powder as microspheres in a 6 ml injection vial made of colourless glass, closed with a grey rubber stopper with fluorocaulk coating and a dark blue (for 10 mg dose), orange (for 20 mg dose), or dark red (for 30 mg dose) flip-off aluminium cap.

Prefilled syringe with 3 ml solvent made of colourless glass, with two grey rubber stoppers, plunger, piston, and cap, one vial adapter in a plastic container, one needle.

Prescription status.

Prescription only.

Manufacturer.

1. Novartis Pharma Stein AG / Novartis Pharma Stein AG (batch release);
2. Novartis Farmaceutica, S.A. / Novartis Farmaceutica, S.A. (batch release).

Manufacturer's address and location of operations.

1. Schaffhauserstrasse, 4332 Stein, Switzerland.
2. Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 764, Barcelona, 08013, Spain.