Abstract

The most effective option for the medical treatment of patients with acromegaly is the use of somatostatin analogs. Octreotide acetate is a synthetic analog of somatostatin, with similar effects but a prolonged duration of action. Octreotide acetate is routinely given by subcutaneous (s.c.) or intramuscular injection. In the present study, we examined the feasibility of oral delivery of octreotide acetate reconstituted with increasing concentrations (0.5%, 1.5% and 3.0%) of Intravail®, a patented alkylsaccharide transmucosal absorption enhancing agent. The pharmacokinetics of orally delivered (by gavage) octreotide acetate in Intravail® were compared to those of octreotide acetate administered subcutaneously in sodium acetate buffer to male Swiss Webster mice. Oral delivery of octreotide acetate in 0.5% Intravail® significantly enhanced total uptake (1254.08ng/ml/min vs. 311.63ng/ml/min, respectively), serum half-life (52.1min vs. 1.3min, respectively), and relative bioavailability (4.0 vs. 1.0, respectively) when compared to delivery by s.c. injection. Higher concentrations of Intravail ®did not further enhance uptake, serum half-life, or bioavailability. The results of this study indicate that oral delivery of octreotide acetate in Intravail®is feasible, and is an effective method of administration which significantly improves uptake, bioavailability and half-life when compared to s.c. injection. Thus, oral delivery of octreotide acetate in Intravail® may have significant potential as a novel, non-invasive approach to the treatment of acromegaly and octreotide-mediated symptoms of carcinoid and VIP-secreting tumors.

2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.