Does lanreotide actually slow tumour growth?

Yes. In the placebo-controlled CLARINET trial it significantly prolonged progression-free survival in metastatic enteropancreatic NETs, demonstrating a genuine antiproliferative effect.

How is lanreotide given?

As a long-acting deep subcutaneous depot injection roughly every 4 weeks, administered by or under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

What are the main side effects?

Diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal effects, injection-site reactions, gallstones with prolonged use, possible mild glucose changes, and bradycardia.

Is lanreotide a peptide people can self-experiment with?

No. It is a regulated prescription depot drug requiring specialist supervision and monitoring, not a self-administered research peptide.

EMA-approvedaka Somatuline, Ipstyl

Lanreotide — Complete Research Guide (2026)

Last updated 2026-06-30

TL;DR

Lanreotide (also known as Somatuline) is a peptide catalogued under Hormones & Metabolic (Somatostatin analog). It is described as: SSTR2/5. Documented context: Acromegaly; neuroendocrine tumors. Neutral reference entry; EU status: EU-approved prescription medicine.

What is Lanreotide?

Lanreotide (marketed as Somatuline Depot/Autogel) is a synthetic long-acting somatostatin analog approved by the FDA and EMA for acromegaly and for unresectable, well- or moderately-differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs); it is also approved to reduce carcinoid-syndrome symptoms.

The evidence base is high: efficacy rests on the pivotal phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled CLARINET randomized trial in GEP-NETs plus prospective acromegaly trials, all conducted in humans.

How does Lanreotide work?

Lanreotide binds preferentially to somatostatin receptor subtypes 2 and 5 on tumour and pituitary cells, inhibiting secretion of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, and gut hormones.

This receptor activation also exerts a direct antiproliferative effect that slows neuroendocrine tumour growth.

What does the research say about Lanreotide?

In metastatic enteropancreatic NETs, lanreotide significantly prolonged progression-free survival versus placebo (CLARINET). ^[1]
As primary medical therapy in acromegaly, lanreotide Autogel 120 mg produced clinically meaningful tumour shrinkage in treatment-naive patients (PRIMARYS). ^[3]
In the CLARINET open-label extension, continued lanreotide sustained antitumour control of pancreatic and intestinal NETs over long-term follow-up. ^[2]

Clinical research & studies

The references below are the primary sources cited throughout this guide. Each links directly to PubMed or the regulator. Where evidence is preclinical (animal or in-vitro), that is stated rather than implied.

[1] Lanreotide in metastatic enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors — Caplin ME et al., New England Journal of Medicine 2014. (Phase 3 randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial (CLARINET))
[2] Anti-tumour effects of lanreotide for pancreatic and intestinal neuroendocrine tumours: the CLARINET open-label extension study — Caplin ME et al., Endocrine-Related Cancer 2016. (Open-label extension study)
[3] Tumor shrinkage with lanreotide Autogel 120 mg as primary therapy in acromegaly: results of a prospective multicenter clinical trial — Caron PJ et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2014. (Prospective multicenter clinical trial (PRIMARYS))
[4] Glucose and lipid levels with lanreotide autogel 120 mg in treatment-naive patients with acromegaly: data from the PRIMARYS study — Caron PJ et al., Clinical Endocrinology 2017. (Prospective study analysis)
[5] Biochemical responses in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with neuroendocrine tumors: pooled analysis of 2 phase 3 trials — Mirakhur B et al., Endocrine Practice 2018. (Pooled analysis of two phase 3 trials)

Dosing context

This is not medical advice or a usage recommendation. Dosing figures are reported research context only, cited from the published literature.

This is context only and not dosing advice: lanreotide is given as a deep subcutaneous depot injection (commonly 60-120 mg) at roughly 4-week intervals, with the dose titrated to biochemical and symptom response.

It is administered by or under the direction of a healthcare professional and is not a self-experimentation compound.

Side effects & safety profile

The most common adverse effects are gastrointestinal (diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea) and injection-site reactions, and cholelithiasis (gallstones) can develop with prolonged use because somatostatin analogs reduce gallbladder motility.

Lanreotide can modestly impair glucose regulation, so blood glucose should be monitored, and bradycardia has been reported.

It is a prescription depot drug that must be used under specialist supervision.

Stacking & combinations

In clinical practice lanreotide is sometimes combined with other approved anti-tumour agents in NETs under specialist oncology care, not stacked as a wellness or performance supplement.

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Frequently asked questions

It is an approved prescription medicine for acromegaly and for unresectable well or moderately-differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, and to reduce carcinoid-syndrome symptoms.

References

[1] Lanreotide in metastatic enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors — Caplin ME et al., New England Journal of Medicine 2014. PMID: 25014687. View sourceStudy: Phase 3 randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial (CLARINET)Lanreotide significantly prolonged progression-free survival versus placebo in metastatic grade 1-2 enteropancreatic NETs.
[2] Anti-tumour effects of lanreotide for pancreatic and intestinal neuroendocrine tumours: the CLARINET open-label extension study — Caplin ME et al., Endocrine-Related Cancer 2016. PMID: 26743120. View sourceStudy: Open-label extension studyContinued lanreotide maintained antitumour activity in pancreatic and intestinal NETs during extended follow-up.
[3] Tumor shrinkage with lanreotide Autogel 120 mg as primary therapy in acromegaly: results of a prospective multicenter clinical trial — Caron PJ et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2014. PMID: 24423301. View sourceStudy: Prospective multicenter clinical trial (PRIMARYS)Primary lanreotide Autogel therapy achieved clinically significant pituitary tumour volume reduction in treatment-naive acromegaly patients.
[4] Glucose and lipid levels with lanreotide autogel 120 mg in treatment-naive patients with acromegaly: data from the PRIMARYS study — Caron PJ et al., Clinical Endocrinology 2017. PMID: 27874199. View sourceStudy: Prospective study analysisLanreotide produced only modest, generally non-clinically-significant changes in glucose and lipid parameters over 48 weeks.
[5] Biochemical responses in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with neuroendocrine tumors: pooled analysis of 2 phase 3 trials — Mirakhur B et al., Endocrine Practice 2018. PMID: 30084687. View sourceStudy: Pooled analysis of two phase 3 trialsLanreotide reduced tumour biomarker levels in both symptomatic and asymptomatic NET patients.

This article is for educational and research purposes only. Peptides discussed here are not approved for human consumption by the FDA, EMA, or equivalent regulators outside of specific clinical contexts. Always consult a licensed medical professional before any therapeutic use.