Head to head
Octreotide against Lanreotide
The two established somatostatin analogues, both approved, both used in acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumours. Lanreotide has something unusual for a peptide: a randomised phase 3 showing longer progression-free survival, which is a hard endpoint.
Column A
OctreotideOctreotide (somatostatin analogue)
An FDA-approved long-acting somatostatin analogue used for acromegaly and hormone-secreting tumors.
Column B
LanreotideLanreotide (Somatuline), long-acting somatostatin analogue
A somatostatin analogue that extended progression-free survival in neuroendocrine tumours in a randomised phase 3, which is a hard endpoint that very few peptides on this site can claim.
Side by side, on the facts we can check
| Attribute | Octreotide | Lanreotide |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Hormone | Hormone |
| FDA status | FDA-approved (Sandostatin) | FDA-approved for acromegaly, for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours to improve progression-free survival, and for carcinoid syndrome. |
| Half-life | ~1.7 hours (long-acting depot lasts weeks) | Roughly 23 to 30 days from the prolonged-release depot formulation, so it is dosed every four weeks by deep subcutaneous injection. |
| Molecular weight | 1,019.2 Da | Roughly 1.1 kDa. A cyclic octapeptide. |
| Mechanism | Activates somatostatin receptors to suppress growth hormone and multiple gut and pancreatic hormones. | A cyclic octapeptide analogue of somatostatin with high affinity for somatostatin receptor subtypes 2 and 5, formulated as a prolonged-release depot. Activating those receptors, which are G protein-coupled and inhibitory, suppresses hormone secretion from pituitary and neuroendocrine cells and reduces gut motility and secretion. In neuroendocrine tumours the antiproliferative effect appears to come from direct receptor-mediated signalling in the tumour rather than only from suppressing hormone output, which is why it delays progression rather than merely controlling symptoms. |
| Human studies cited | 2 | 1 |
| Legal status, US | FDA-approved, prescription only | FDA-approved, prescription only |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Octreotide and Lanreotide?
Octreotide: An FDA-approved long-acting somatostatin analogue used for acromegaly and hormone-secreting tumors. Lanreotide: A somatostatin analogue that extended progression-free survival in neuroendocrine tumours in a randomised phase 3, which is a hard endpoint that very few peptides on this site can claim.
Which has stronger research evidence, Octreotide or Lanreotide?
This database does not grade compounds. It counts what was run in people: 2 of the 4 studies cited on the Octreotide profile were human work, against 1 of 1 for Lanreotide. Those counts are of our own citation lists and understate any larger literature, and neither is a recommendation.
Are Octreotide and Lanreotide FDA-approved?
Octreotide: FDA-approved (Sandostatin). Lanreotide: FDA-approved for acromegaly, for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours to improve progression-free survival, and for carcinoid syndrome..
Reviewed Sep 2026. This page sets two published records side by side. It is educational, it is not medical advice, and it contains no dosing protocols or recommendations for personal use.