The team at Oakwood Labs has made it our mission to develop long-acting injectables to treat various diseases and disorders. This includes ongoing work with drugs to treat acromegaly and carcinoid tumors, both rare diseases that affect millions of people globally. Read on to learn more about the strides we’ve taken within endocrinology, and the broader healthcare sector.

The History of Acromegaly and Carcinoid Tumor Drug Development

Though carcinoid syndrome was first described by Thorson and colleagues in 1954, Pierre Marie discovered acromegaly years prior in 1886. At these times, there were no acromegaly and carcinoid tumor pharmaceuticals to reduce the size of malignant or benign growths, so surgical removal of a tumor was incredibly common.

Then, in the 1970s, dopamine agonists, such as bromocriptine and cabergoline, were introduced as treatment options to control tumor growth for acromegaly and carcinoid syndrome. However, the treatment came with a range of side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, and constipation, to name a few, so they are not used as standalone options for treatment today.

The Current State of These Pharmaceuticals

Numerous strides have been made within the healthcare sector since the early stages of acromegaly and carcinoid tumor drug development. For example, as of June 2020, the FDA has approved oral octreotide capsules as one of the first long-term maintenance treatments for acromegaly. This alternative is a viable solution for individuals who have responded to and tolerated treatment with injectable SRLs.

Along with more recent trials and discoveries, several targeted drugs are used to treat these diseases and manage their symptoms, with Sandostatin being one of the most common. These synthetic acromegaly and carcinoid pharmaceuticals are designed to mimic the body’s natural hormone, somatostatin, which, in turn, prevents the body from producing too many growth hormones and serotonin. 

What Oakwood Labs Is Developing Internally for Acromegaly and Carcinoid Tumor Treatment

Oakwood Labs has successfully manufactured and scaled up formulations focused on treating acromegaly and carcinoid tumors. The daily injections initially used for these conditions have been largely replaced by Sandostatin LAR, a one-month LAI product. Plus, our two-month formulations further reduce the number of injections and office visits patients experience by 50%, which can also help with enhancing patient compliance.

Additionally, Oakwood Labs currently has two endocrinology programs that are focused on creating pharmaceuticals to treat acromegaly and carcinoid tumors. Project Treestar is designed to specifically treat acromegaly and cancer-related nausea, while Project Lunar is looking to help those with type 2 diabetes. 

Partnership Opportunities

Oakwood Labs is seeking an external partner to help further develop our endocrinology program. Just some of the key responsibilities include:

• Funding the ongoing development activities
• Overseeing phase 1-3 of clinical trials
• Contributing to registration and commercialization efforts

If you’re interested in pursuing this opportunity, please reach out to our team directly for more information. We would be happy to supply the partner with additional information about the market opportunity, estimated financial projections, and development work to date.

FAQs About LAIs for Acromegaly and Carcinoid Tumor Treatment

What are the major benefits of an LAI in treatments for acromegaly, carcinoid tumors, and more?

When developing drugs for treating acromegaly and carcinoid tumors, know that long-acting injectables are effective for blocking the production of excess blood levels of growth hormone (GF) and reducing the insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in acromegaly patients. This is helpful for individuals who cannot be treated with other methods, such as surgical intervention.

Sandostatin acts as a somatostatin analogue, mimicking a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate hormone release from the tumor cells. This aids in the treatment of carcinoid tumors.

What are the current barriers to an LAI entering this particular space?

The barriers to entry for the LAI space are very high. You need to have a proven technology capable of delivering the right amount of the drug within a given therapeutic window. You also need an FDA-approved GMP facility to manufacture the product. Finally, you need a high level of expertise to understand, develop, and validate the process.

Oakwood has all these capabilities, along with over 25 years of expertise within the field.

Contact Our Team of Experts Today

If you have any questions regarding the process of developing pharmaceuticals for treating acromegaly and carcinoid tumors, or our work in the endocrinology space, please reach out to our team of experts today. And if you’re looking for a position within our partnership program, contact us directly, as we look forward to hearing from you.