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Somatostatin analogue (SSTR1, 2, 3, 5)

Pasireotide

Brand names: Signifor

Pasireotide is a multi-receptor somatostatin analogue used to treat Cushing's disease and acromegaly in patients for whom surgery is not an option or has not been curative.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Clinical monograph

How it works

It binds several somatostatin receptor subtypes, with high affinity for SSTR5, suppressing secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone in Cushing's disease and of growth hormone in acromegaly.

Prescribing in practice

  • Pasireotide commonly causes hyperglycaemia, sometimes severe, so blood glucose must be assessed before and during treatment and diabetes managed proactively.
  • It can prolong the QT interval, so caution is needed with other QT-prolonging drugs and in patients with relevant cardiac or electrolyte abnormalities.
  • Like other somatostatin analogues it predisposes to gallstones, and hepatic enzymes may rise during therapy.

Monitoring

Monitor blood glucose closely, along with liver function, ECG, electrolytes and gallbladder status, during treatment.

Counselling the patient

  • Watch for symptoms of high blood sugar such as excessive thirst and frequent urination, and report them promptly.
  • Attend monitoring for blood glucose, heart tracing and liver tests as arranged.
  • Report severe upper abdominal pain, which could indicate gallbladder problems.

Evidence & guidelines

Efficacy in lowering cortisol in Cushing's disease and in controlling acromegaly is established in the SPC and supporting clinical trials.

Reference: NICE; SmPC; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Pathways