Legal status · United Kingdom
Is Somatostatin legal in the United Kingdom?
No. Somatostatin is not an approved medicine in the United Kingdom; its classification is "Not licensed as a product; analogues licensed". Nothing containing it is authorized for any use in people. Vials labeled "for research use only" are not exempt: that label does not make human use lawful. Human evidence: Moderate.
Somatostatin in the United Kingdom at a glance
| Classification | Not licensed as a product; analogues licensed |
|---|---|
| MHRA approval status | Not approved by MHRA |
| Evidence level | Moderate (research strength: Strong) |
| Reviewed | Sep 2026 |
Classification and note come from the Somatostatin profile, checked against Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) listings at the reviewed date.
What this means
- 01
No product containing Somatostatin is approved by MHRA for any use in the United Kingdom, so nothing on the market is authorized for people.
- 02
"Research use only" is a vendor label, not a legal category that permits human use. It does not exempt a product from medicines law.
- 03
Importing, supplying or promoting it for human use can fall under medicines legislation in the United Kingdom. This page is general information, not legal advice.
What Somatostatin is
The natural hormone that switches off growth hormone release; its analogues like octreotide are approved drugs.
Somatostatin is the body's natural brake on growth hormone, opposing GHRH and ghrelin. It also suppresses several digestive and pancreatic hormones.
Mechanism: Activates somatostatin receptors to inhibit growth hormone, insulin, glucagon, and various gastrointestinal hormones.
Regulatory history: Native hormone; analogues (octreotide) are FDA-approved
How MHRA treats this kind of product
Licenses medicines for the UK market. A compound without a marketing authorisation is an unlicensed medicine, which can only lawfully be supplied for human use through a prescriber under the specials scheme, not sold as a research product.
The classification above is the The Longevity Archive reading of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency listings for Somatostatin at the reviewed date, not a legal opinion. Rules change, and importing, prescribing and possessing a compound can each be treated differently. Check the regulator directly before acting on anything here.
Somatostatin in other countries
United States
Not approvedNot approved as a product; analogues (octreotide, lanreotide) are FDA-approved prescription drugs
Is Somatostatin legal in the United States?Australia
Not approvedNot registered as a product; analogues registered
Is Somatostatin legal in Australia?Canada
Not approvedNot approved as a product; analogues approved
Is Somatostatin legal in Canada?Frequently asked questions
Is Somatostatin legal in the United Kingdom?
No. Somatostatin is not an approved medicine in the United Kingdom; its classification is "Not licensed as a product; analogues licensed". Nothing containing it is authorized for any use in people. Vials labeled "for research use only" are not exempt: that label does not make human use lawful. Human evidence: Moderate.
Can I buy Somatostatin in the United Kingdom?
No approved product exists to buy. In the United Kingdom Somatostatin is classified as "Not licensed as a product; analogues licensed", so there is no licensed pharmacy product. Vendors selling it "for research use only" are not selling it for human use, and that label does not change its legal status. This site does not list or recommend vendors.
Is Somatostatin MHRA approved?
No. In the United Kingdom Somatostatin is classified as "Not licensed as a product; analogues licensed", which is not a MHRA marketing approval. For comparison, the US FDA status is: Native hormone; analogues (octreotide) are FDA-approved. Evidence level: Moderate.
Related compounds in the United Kingdom
Full research profile
Mechanism, cited studies, FDA status and the full legal summary for Somatostatin live on its compound profile.
Somatostatin profileThis page is general information about the regulatory status of Somatostatin in the United Kingdom, current as of Sep 2026. It is not legal advice, and classifications change; check Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency directly or consult a lawyer for a specific situation. Educational use only. This database summarizes published research. It is not medical advice and contains no dosing protocols or recommendations for personal use. The Longevity Archive has no vendor relationships and does not recommend where to buy anything.