Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of a long‐acting formulation of the new somatostatin analogue, lanreotide, in normal healthy volunteers.

1. The aims of the study were to assess the pharmacokinetic parameters and the hormonal effects of the slow‐release formulation of the somatostatin analogue (SR‐L) in normal male volunteers. 2. Eight healthy males were studied. For the determination of basal values blood was sampled before the injection of vehicle and then every other hour for 8 h in order to measure plasma GH, prolactin (PRL), TSH, free thyroxin (fT4), insulin and glucagon levels. Plasma insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) levels were measured on a single sample. On day 1 of the study, 30 mg SR‐L was administered intramuscularly. Blood was drawn just before injection and then every other hour for a period of 8 h. Thereafter, blood was sampled three times a week for 3 weeks in order to measure lanreotide, IGF‐1, TSH, fT4 and PRL concentrations. Plasma GH was determined on days 6 and 11 of the study. 3. Plasma lanreotide concentrations rose to 38.3 +/‐ 4.1 ng ml‐1 2 h following injection. The levels then progressively decreased, remaining above 1.5 ng ml‐1 until day 11 and reaching 0.92 +/‐ 0.28 ng ml‐1 2 weeks after injection. The apparent plasma half‐life and mean residence time were 4.52 +/‐ 0.50 and 5.48 +/‐ 0.51 days respectively. 4. By comparison with the control day, plasma insulin concentrations only decreased 2 h following injection, whereas plasma glucagon did not change at any time. 5. Plasma TSH concentrations were significantly (P < 0.01) reduced from 2 h to day 4 following SR‐L injection.2+ '