SOMATULINE DEPOT is indicated for the long-term treatment of acromegalic patients who have had an inadequate response to surgery and/or radiotherapy, or for whom surgery and/or radiotherapy is not an option.

The goal of treatment in acromegaly is to reduce growth hormone (GH) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels to normal.

SOMATULINE DEPOT is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable, well or moderately differentiated, locally advanced or metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) to improve progression-free survival.

SOMATULINE DEPOT is indicated for the treatment of adults with carcinoid syndrome; when used, it reduces the frequency of short-acting somatostatin analog rescue therapy.

• For deep subcutaneous injection only.
• SOMATULINE DEPOT is intended for administration by a healthcare provider.
• Refer to the Instructions For Use (IFU) for complete administration instructions with illustrations.

SOMATULINE DEPOT may reduce gallbladder motility and lead to gallstone formation; therefore, patients may need to be monitored periodically [see Adverse Reactions (6.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.2)]. There have been postmarketing reports of cholelithiasis (gallstones) resulting in complications, including cholecystitis, cholangitis, and pancreatitis, and requiring cholecystectomy in patients taking SOMATULINE DEPOT. If complications of cholelithiasis are suspected, discontinue SOMATULINE DEPOT and treat appropriately.

Pharmacological studies in animals and humans show that lanreotide, like somatostatin and other somatostatin analogs, inhibits the secretion of insulin and glucagon. Hence, patients treated with SOMATULINE DEPOT may experience hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Blood glucose levels should be monitored when lanreotide treatment is initiated, or when the dose is altered, and antidiabetic treatment should be adjusted accordingly [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

The most common overall cardiac adverse reactions observed in three pooled SOMATULINE DEPOT cardiac studies in patients with acromegaly were sinus bradycardia (12/217, 5.5%), bradycardia (6/217, 2.8%), and hypertension (12/217, 5.5%) [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

In 81 patients with baseline heart rates of 60 beats per minute (bpm) or greater treated with SOMATULINE DEPOT in Study 3, the incidence of heart rate less than 60 bpm was 23% (19/81) as compared to 16% (15/94) of placebo treated patients; 10 patients (12%) had documented heart rates less than 60 bpm on more than one visit. The incidence of documented episodes of heart rate less than 50 bpm as well as the incidence of bradycardia reported as an adverse event was 1% in each treatment group. Initiate appropriate medical management in patients who develop symptomatic bradycardia.

In patients without underlying cardiac disease, SOMATULINE DEPOT may lead to a decrease in heart rate without necessarily reaching the threshold of bradycardia. In patients suffering from cardiac disorders prior to SOMATULINE DEPOT treatment, sinus bradycardia may occur. Care should be taken when initiating treatment with SOMATULINE DEPOT in patients with bradycardia.

Slight decreases in thyroid function have been seen during treatment with lanreotide in acromegalic patients, though clinical hypothyroidism is rare (less than 1%). Thyroid function tests are recommended where clinically indicated.

Acromegaly: Serum GH and IGF-1 levels are useful markers of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

New onset steatorrhea, stool discoloration and loose stools have been reported in patients receiving somatostatin analogs, including SOMATULINE DEPOT. Somatostatin analogs reversibly inhibit secretion of pancreatic enzymes and bile acids, which may result in malabsorption of dietary fats and subsequent symptoms of steatorrhea, loose stools, abdominal bloating, and weight loss. If new occurrence or worsening of these symptoms are reported in patients receiving SOMATULINE DEPOT, evaluate patients for potential pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and manage accordingly.

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

As with all peptides, there is potential for immunogenicity. The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay may be influenced by several factors including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications, and underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies to lanreotide in the studies described below with the incidence of antibodies in other studies or to other products may be misleading.

Laboratory investigations of acromegalic patients treated with SOMATULINE DEPOT in clinical studies show that the percentage of patients with putative antibodies at any time point after treatment is low (less than 1% to 4% of patients in specific studies whose antibodies were tested). The antibodies did not appear to affect the efficacy or safety of SOMATULINE DEPOT.

In Study 3, development of anti-lanreotide antibodies was assessed using a radioimmunoprecipitation assay. In patients with GEP NETs receiving SOMATULINE DEPOT, the incidence of anti-lanreotide antibodies was 4% (3 of 82) at 24 weeks, 10% (7 of 67) at 48 weeks, 11% (6 of 57) at 72 weeks, and 10% (8 of 84) at 96 weeks. Assessment for neutralizing antibodies was not conducted. In Study 4, less than 2% (2 of 108) of the patients treated with SOMATULINE DEPOT developed anti-lanreotide antibodies.

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of SOMATULINE DEPOT. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Gastrointestinal disorders: pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
Hepatobiliary: steatorrhea; cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis, which have sometimes required cholecystectomy
Hypersensitivity: angioedema and anaphylaxis
Injection site reactions: injection site abscess

Lanreotide, like somatostatin and other somatostatin analogs, inhibits the secretion of insulin and glucagon. Therefore, blood glucose levels should be monitored when SOMATULINE DEPOT treatment is initiated or when the dose is altered, and antidiabetic treatment should be adjusted accordingly [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Concomitant administration of cyclosporine with SOMATULINE DEPOT may decrease the absorption of cyclosporine, and therefore, may necessitate adjustment of cyclosporine dose to maintain therapeutic drug concentrations. [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]

Limited published data indicate that concomitant administration of a somatostatin analog and bromocriptine may increase the absorption of bromocriptine [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Concomitant administration of bradycardia-inducing drugs (e.g., beta-blockers) may have an additive effect on the reduction of heart rate associated with lanreotide. Dosage adjustments of concomitant drugs may be necessary.

The limited published data available indicate that somatostatin analogs may decrease the metabolic clearance of compounds known to be metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, which may be due to the suppression of growth hormone. Since it cannot be excluded that SOMATULINE DEPOT may have this effect, avoid other drugs mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 and which have a low therapeutic index (e.g., quinidine, terfenadine). Drugs metabolized by the liver may be metabolized more slowly during SOMATULINE DEPOT treatment and dose reductions of the concomitantly administered medications should be considered [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

The safety and effectiveness of SOMATULINE DEPOT in pediatric patients have not been established.

No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between elderly patients with acromegaly compared with younger patients and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out. Studies 3 and 4, conducted in patients with neuroendocrine tumors, did not include sufficient numbers of patients aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients.

Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

Lanreotide, the active component of SOMATULINE DEPOT is an octapeptide analog of natural somatostatin. The mechanism of action of lanreotide is believed to be similar to that of natural somatostatin.

Lanreotide has a high affinity for human somatostatin receptors (SSTR) 2 and 5 and a reduced binding affinity for human SSTR1, 3, and 4. Activity at human SSTR2 and 5 is the primary mechanism believed responsible for GH inhibition. Like somatostatin, lanreotide is an inhibitor of various endocrine, neuroendocrine, exocrine, and paracrine functions.

The primary pharmacodynamic effect of lanreotide is a reduction of GH and/or IGF-1 levels enabling normalization of levels in acromegalic patients [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. In acromegalic patients, lanreotide reduces GH levels in a dose-dependent way. After a single injection of SOMATULINE DEPOT, plasma GH levels fall rapidly and are maintained for at least 28 days.

In Study 4, patients with carcinoid syndrome treated with SOMATULINE DEPOT 120 mg every 4 weeks had reduced levels of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) compared with placebo [see Clinical Studies (14.3)].

Lanreotide inhibits the basal secretion of motilin, gastric inhibitory peptide, and pancreatic polypeptide, but has no significant effect on the secretion of secretin. Lanreotide inhibits postprandial secretion of pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin, and cholecystokinin (CCK). In healthy subjects, lanreotide produces a reduction and a delay in postprandial insulin secretion, resulting in transient, mild glucose intolerance.

Lanreotide inhibits meal-stimulated pancreatic secretions, and reduces duodenal bicarbonate and amylase concentrations, and produces a transient reduction in gastric acidity.

Lanreotide has been shown to inhibit gallbladder contractility and bile secretion in healthy subjects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

In healthy subjects, lanreotide inhibits meal-induced increases in superior mesenteric artery and portal venous blood flow, but has no effect on basal or meal-stimulated renal blood flow. Lanreotide has no effect on renal plasma flow or renal vascular resistance. However, a transient decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and filtration fraction has been observed after a single injection of lanreotide.

In healthy subjects, non-significant reductions in glucagon levels were seen after lanreotide administration. In diabetic non-acromegalic subjects receiving a continuous infusion (21-day) of lanreotide, serum glucose concentrations were temporarily decreased by 20% to 30% after the start and end of the infusion. Serum glucose concentrations returned to normal levels within 24 hours. A significant decrease in insulin concentrations was recorded between baseline and Day 1 only [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Lanreotide inhibits the nocturnal increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) seen in healthy subjects. Lanreotide reduces prolactin levels in acromegalic patients treated on a long-term basis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

SOMATULINE DEPOT is thought to form a drug depot at the injection site due to the interaction of the formulation with physiological fluids. The most likely mechanism of drug release is a passive diffusion of the precipitated drug from the depot towards the surrounding tissues, followed by the absorption to the bloodstream.

After a single, deep subcutaneous administration, the mean absolute bioavailability of SOMATULINE DEPOT in healthy subjects was 73.4, 69.0, and 78.4% for the 60 mg, 90 mg, and 120 mg doses, respectively. Mean C_max values ranged from 4.3 to 8.4 ng/mL during the first day. Single-dose linearity was demonstrated with respect to AUC and C_max, and showed high inter-subject variability. SOMATULINE DEPOT showed sustained release of lanreotide with a half-life of 23 to 30 days. Mean serum concentrations were > 1 ng/mL throughout 28 days at 90 mg and 120 mg and > 0.9 ng/mL at 60 mg.

In studies evaluating excretion, <5% of lanreotide was excreted in urine and less than 0.5% was recovered unchanged in feces, indicative of some biliary excretion.

Standard lifetime carcinogenicity bioassays were conducted in mice and rats. Mice were given daily subcutaneous doses of lanreotide at 0.5, 1.5, 5, 10, and 30 mg/kg for 104 weeks. Cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors of fibrous connective tissues at the injection sites were observed at the high dose of 30 mg/kg/day. Fibrosarcomas in both genders and malignant fibrous histiocytomas were observed in males at 30 mg/kg/day resulting in exposures 3 times higher than the clinical therapeutic exposure at the maximum therapeutic dose of 120 mg given by monthly subcutaneous injection based on the AUC values. Rats were given daily subcutaneous doses of lanreotide at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 mg/kg for 104 weeks. Increased cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors of fibrous connective tissues at the injection sites were observed at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day resulting in exposures less than the clinical therapeutic exposure at 120 mg given by monthly subcutaneous injection. The increased incidence of injection site tumors in rodents is likely related to the increased dosing frequency (daily) in animals compared to monthly dosing in humans and therefore may not be clinically relevant.

Lanreotide was not genotoxic in tests for gene mutations in a bacterial mutagenicity (Ames) assay, or mouse lymphoma cell assay with or without metabolic activation. Lanreotide was not genotoxic in tests for the detection of chromosomal aberrations in a human lymphocyte and in vivo mouse micronucleus assay.

In a fertility study conducted with lanreotide in rats, reduced female fecundity was observed at estimated exposure corresponding to approximately 10-fold the plasma exposure at the MRHD of 120 mg. The fertility of male rats was unaffected by the treatment up to an estimated exposure corresponding to approximately 11-fold the plasma exposure at the MRHD of 120 mg.

The effect of SOMATULINE DEPOT on reducing GH and IGF-levels and control of symptoms in patients with acromegaly was studied in 2 long-term, multiple-dose, randomized, multicenter studies.

The efficacy of SOMATULINE DEPOT was established in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 204 patients with unresectable, well or moderately differentiated, metastatic or locally advanced, gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Patients were required to have non-functioning tumors without hormone-related symptoms. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive SOMATULINE DEPOT 120 mg (n=101) or placebo (n=103) every 4 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 96 weeks of treatment. Randomization was stratified by the presence or absence of prior therapy and by the presence or absence of disease progression within 6 months of enrollment. The major efficacy outcome measure was progression-free survival (PFS), defined as time to disease progression as assessed by central independent radiological review using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.0) or death.

The median patient age was 63 years (range 30 to 92 years) and 95% were Caucasian. Disease progression was present in nine of 204 patients (4.4%) in the 6 months prior to enrollment and 29 patients (14%) received prior chemotherapy. Ninety-one patients (45%) had primary sites of disease in the pancreas, with the remainder originating in the midgut (35%), hindgut (7%), or unknown primary location (13%). The majority (69%) of the study population had grade 1 tumors. Baseline prognostic characteristics were similar between arms with one exception; there were 39% of patients in the SOMATULINE DEPOT arm and 27% of patients in the placebo arm who had hepatic involvement by tumor of greater than 25%.

Patients on the SOMATULINE DEPOT arm had a statistically significant improvement in PFS compared to patients receiving placebo (see Table 6 and Figure 1).

Figure 1: Kaplan-Meier Curves of Progression-Free Survival

Figure 1

Study 4 was a multicenter, randomized, 16-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 115 patients with histopathologically-confirmed neuroendocrine tumors and a history of carcinoid syndrome (flushing and/or diarrhea) who were treatment naïve or stable on another somatostatin analog and who were randomized 1:1 to receive SOMATULINE DEPOT 120 mg (n=59) or placebo (n=56) by deep subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks. Patients were instructed to self-administer a short-acting somatostatin analog (octreotide) as rescue medication as needed for symptom control. The use of rescue therapy and the severity and frequency of diarrhea and flushing symptoms were reported daily in electronic patient diaries. During the 16 week double-blind phase, the primary efficacy outcome measure was the percentage of days in which patients administered at least one injection of rescue medication for symptom control. Average daily frequencies of diarrhea and flushing events were assessed secondarily.

The patient population had a mean age of 59 years (range 27 to 85 years), 58% were female and 77% were Caucasian. Patients in the SOMATULINE DEPOT arm experienced 15% fewer days on rescue medication compared to patients in the placebo arm (34% vs. 49% of days, respectively; p=0.02). The average daily frequencies of diarrhea and flushing events in patients treated with SOMATULINE DEPOT (and rescue medication) were numerically lower relative to patients treated with placebo (and rescue medication), but were not statistically significantly different via hierarchical testing.

Storage and Handling

Store SOMATULINE DEPOT in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F).

Protect from light.

Store in the original package.

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Advise patients to immediately contact their healthcare provider if they experience serious hypersensitivity reactions, such as angioedema or anaphylaxis [see Contraindications (4)].

Cholelithiasis and Complications of Cholelithiasis

Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if they experience signs or symptoms of gallstones (cholelithiasis) or complications of gallstones (e.g., cholecystitis, cholangitis, or pancreatitis) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia

Advise patients to immediately contact their healthcare provider if they experience signs or symptoms of hyper- or hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Cardiovascular Abnormalities

Advise patients to immediately contact their healthcare provider if they experience bradycardia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Thyroid Function Abnormalities

Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if they experience signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

Laboratory Tests

Advise patients with acromegaly that response to SOMATULINE DEPOT should be monitored by periodic measurements of GH and IGF-1 levels, with a goal of decreasing these levels to the normal range [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

Steatorrhea and Malabsorption of Dietary Fats

Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if they experience new or worsening symptoms of steatorrhea, stool discoloration, loose stools, abdominal bloating, and weight loss [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ].

Lactation

Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with SOMATULINE DEPOT and for 6 months after the last dose [see Use in Specific Populations (8.2)].

Infertility

Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential for reduced fertility from SOMATULINE DEPOT [see Use in Specific Populations (8.3)].