New somatostatin analogs: will they fulfil old promises?

New somatostatin analogs: will they fulfil old promises?

A peptide inhibiting the release of growth hormone (GH) was originally detected accidentally during studies of the distribution of GH-releasing factor in the hypothalamus of rats (1). This peptide, called somatostatin, proved to be a cyclic peptide consisting of 14 amino acids. Subsequent studies have considerably expanded this initially simple concept of somatostatin as a peptide whose main fu...

Will they come and will they stay?

Somatostatin analogs: future directions.

S OMATOSTATIN is involved in the negative control of the normal function of a number of organ systems. One might call the peptide an inhibitory tissue (growth) factor, which mainly prevents local overreaction from a multitude of stimulatory factors. Long-term administration of somatostatin analogs in most instances only transiently inhibits physiological actions, either because of their desensi...

Perspectives of new potential therapeutic applications of somatostatin analogs.

At the present time only two long-acting somatostatin (SS) analogs, octreotide and lanreotide, are commonly used in the routine therapy. Both analogs have a high affinity mainly to a somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2). The established indications for SS analogs treatment include acromegaly, neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, and some gastro-enterologic diseas...

Inhibitors of the Platelet Thrombin Receptor Will They Live up to Their Promises ?

Not that long ago, aspirin, heparin, and warfarin were the only available antithrombotic agents for treating cardiovascular disease patients at risk of thrombotic events. These agents are still used in several places around the world, and it is remarkable how difficult it was to discover other agents that are more effective and/or safer. Since the mid-1980s we have been witnessing an explosion ...