Oncology · In Clinical Trials
Somatostatin (Native)
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
Somatostatin is a naturally occurring cyclic tetradecapeptide hormone produced by neuroendocrine cells in the hypothalamus, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. It is a broad inhibitory peptide that acts through five receptor subtypes (SSTR1-5) and has anti-secretory, anti-proliferative, and anti-angiogenic effects (PMID 25956467).
The expression of somatostatin receptors on neuroendocrine tumors underlies the use of somatostatin analogues in that setting. Native somatostatin has a very short plasma half-life of about 1 to 3 minutes, which limits its clinical use and led to the development of longer-acting synthetic analogues (PMID 25956467).
02 · Research summary & key findings
Native somatostatin has never been approved by the FDA, but outside the US it is given by continuous intravenous infusion in acute settings such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding and pancreatic surgery, because its short half-life makes continuous infusion necessary (PMID 10567784). A Cochrane review of 21 trials in bleeding esophageal varices found that somatostatin or its analogues reduced initial hemostasis failure and transfusion needs but did not significantly reduce mortality (PMID 18677774). Stable, receptor-selective analogues such as octreotide have been developed and are established in acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumor therapy (PMID 25956467).
03 · Regulatory status
Somatostatin (Native) is currently undergoing clinical trials. It is not yet FDA-approved and is available only through clinical research settings or investigational protocols.
No lawful pathway today
Somatostatin (Native) is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding.
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04 · Administration routes
- Intravenous
References
- [1]Somatostatin for upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and pancreatic surgery. A review of its pharmacology and safety Digestion, 1999. PMID 10567784
- [2]Somatostatin analogues for acute bleeding oesophageal varices Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2008. PMID 18677774
- [3]Therapeutic uses of somatostatin and its analogues: Current view and potential applications Pharmacol Ther, 2015. PMID 25956467
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Somatostatin"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Somatostatin"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Somatostatin"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational and research purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide therapy. The Peptide Association does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment protocol. See our editorial policy for how this content is produced and reviewed. Clinicians: join the network.