DG3173 (Somatoprim), a potentially best-in-class somatostatin analogue, that is currently in development for acromegaly and diabetic retinopathy. DG3173 has completed a phase I clinical trial.

 Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a chronic condition that is characterized by excessive growth hormone secretion caused by benign pituitary tumors. Symptoms include headache, visual field defects, acral overgrowth, impaired glycemic control and even respiratory or cardiac failure. Currently, surgical tumor resection is the standard therapy. Unfortunately, approximately half the acromegaly patients cannot be cured by surgery alone. Patients with persistant symptoms undergo life long pharmacotherapy with somatostatin analogues that suppress excessive secretion of growth hormone. Still, approximately 40% of acromegaly patients do not respond to available somatostatin analogues. Furthermore, the treatment with marketed somatostatin analogues is associated with gastrointestinal side effects, the formation of gallstones, impairment of blood glucose control and even diabetes.
DG3173 has demonstrated an improved efficacy and safety profile in during extensive preclinical testing. In contrast to marketed somatostatin analogues, Somatoprim is expected to be highly effective in most acromegaly patients, including patients who do not respond to currently available therapies, without affecting glycemic control or the gastrointestinal tract.

 Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a late stage complication of diabetes and characterized by long term damage of retinal vessels which results in visual impairment and even blindness. The yearly incidence of new cases of blindness due to diabetic retinopathy is approximately 8000 in Germany alone. Today there is no medication available for patients with diabetic retinopathy. The only possible treatment option for sight threatening diabetic retinopathy is laser photocoagulation which is an aggressive treatment modality with severe side effects and variable success rates.
The development of somatostatin analogues for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy is based on the observation that humans with a deficiency in growth hormone secretion are protected against the development of diabetic retinopathy. Human studies have already demonstrated pharmacological suppression of growth hormone release can significantly attenuate disease progression and thus preserve visual acuity. Studies in experimental models of diabetic retinopathy indicate that DG3173 is highly effective in slowing or preventing progression of the disease even during the early stages and that Somatoprim has a superior efficacy and safety profile compared to marketed somatostatin analogues.