February 2002 - Endocrine

Smoke Signals is a newsletter service to pharmacists in primary care organisations, created monthly by Simon Wills from the Wessex Drug & Medicines Information Centre, Southampton.

February 2002 - No. 10 Endocrine

Teriparatide is a synthetic parathyroid hormone which has been approved in the US for the treatment of osteoporosis. It requires a daily injection and might be used as combination therapy with existing drugs (eg bisphosphonates) or as a second-line treatment by itself. Daily injections may be a barrier to patient acceptance, and this presentation is also likely to increase costs. Teriparatide may be launched in Europe this year.

Pegvisomant is a growth hormone antagonist which should become available this year for the treatment of acromegaly. It is another preparation requiring daily injections, but self-administration could put it at an advantage over currently marketed depot formulations which nurses must give.

A new formulation of somatropin as a depot will allow once or twice monthly injections for those with growth hormone deficiency. Launch is expected this year. Also in very early development is an inhaled formulation of growth hormone which has just entered phase II trials.

Dutasteride acts in the same way as finasteride to block the production of the androgens that stimulate prostate growth. It is likely to be launched for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy in 2002.

Simon Wills can be contacted via email here simon.wills@suht.swest.nhs.uk