Overview
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In plain language
Octreotide (brand name Sandostatin, and others) is an FDA-approved medicine that copies somatostatin, a natural hormone that shuts off the release of other hormones. It is 8 amino acids long.
It is used for acromegaly (too much growth hormone) and to control severe diarrhea and flushing from certain hormone-producing tumors. It comes as a short-acting injection, a monthly long-acting injection and, for acromegaly, a capsule.
For students
Octreotide is a cyclic octapeptide (about 1,019 Da) synthesized at Sandoz in 1979 and approved in 1988. It keeps somatostatin's key binding motif (Phe-Trp-Lys-Thr) within a disulfide-bridged ring and includes D-amino acids and a C-terminal amino alcohol (threoninol).
These changes extend its half-life to about 1.5–2 hours, compared with about 2–3 minutes for somatostatin. It binds mainly somatostatin receptor 2, with lower affinity for SSTR5 and SSTR3.
For researchers and instructors
Clinical use. Acromegaly; carcinoid syndrome and VIPoma symptoms; off-label uses include variceal bleeding and some fistulas and refractory diarrhea.
Theranostics. Radiolabeled somatostatin analogues (for example gallium-68 DOTATATE imaging and lutetium-177 dotatate therapy) grew directly out of octreotide's receptor targeting.
Safety. Gallstones, gastrointestinal effects, glucose changes and bradycardia.
Status. FDA-approved.
Molecular identity
- Amino acids
- 8
- Molecular weight
- ~1,019.2 Da
- Formula
- C₄₉H₆₆N₁₀O₁₀S₂
- Sequence
- D-Phe–Cys–Phe–D-Trp–Lys–Thr–Cys–Thr-ol (disulfide)
Origin and history
Somatostatin was discovered in 1973 by Paul Brazeau, Roger Guillemin and colleagues at the Salk Institute. It blocks growth hormone and many gut hormones, but lasts only minutes.
In 1982 Wilfried Bauer and colleagues at Sandoz designed octreotide, an 8-amino-acid ring that lasts far longer. It was approved in 1988 as Sandostatin for acromegaly and hormone-secreting tumors, with a monthly version in 1998 and an oral capsule in 2020.
Key people
- Roger Guillemin & Paul BrazeauDiscovered somatostatin
- Wilfried BauerDesigned octreotide at Sandoz
Timeline
- 1973
Somatostatin discovered
- 1982
Octreotide designed
- 1988
Sandostatin approved
- 2020
Oral octreotide approved
See every peptide on one history timeline.
Human evidence
Approved for acromegaly and for symptoms of certain neuroendocrine tumors.
Registration and enrollment are not proof of benefit; check study results directly.
Explore original publications and distinguish preclinical findings from controlled human evidence.
Safety and regulatory status
See every compound on the regulatory tracker.
FDA-approved (injection, long-acting injection and an oral form).
This profile is educational and does not provide treatment, dosing or sourcing guidance.
Sources
- PubMed literature search: Octreotide
- PubChem compound search: Octreotide
- DailyMed (FDA label search): Octreotide
- Brazeau et al. 1973, Science
- ClinicalTrials.gov search: Octreotide
Hernandez Gener, E. (2026, November 7). Octreotide: molecular data, research history and evidence. VALREXA Biosciences. https://valrexa.com/peptides/octreotide.html
APA style · Last reviewed November 7, 2026 · Our editorial standardsLast reviewed November 7, 2026. Trial and regulatory status can change; confirm in the linked registries. This profile is educational and is not medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or dosing or sourcing guidance. Report an error · Corrections policy