New acromegaly drug on the horizon

A new drug for treatment and long-term maintenance therapy for acromegaly is now on the horizon. Crinetics Pharmaceuticals recently submitted its first new drug application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for paltusotine, which is a once-daily oral selectively-targeted somatostatin receptor type 2 nonpeptide agonist.

Crinetics says researchers used data from from 18 clinical trials in the application, including two Phase 3 trials that evaluated paltusotine for acromegaly in medically untreated and treated patients.   Patients tolerated the treatment well, the medication achieved biochemical control by maintaining IGF-1 levels and improved patients’ symptoms compared to placebo.   The company says it expects to hear back from the FDA by December.

Paltusotine, is the first drug of its type to complete Phase 3 clinical development for acromegaly and is now in Phase 2 clinical development for carcinoid syndrome associated with neuroendocrine tumors.  Read the company’s press release here. 

Can machine learning to predict hormone deficiency after pituitary surgery?

A study featured on Nature.com used machine learning algorithms to predict whether patients would develop arginine vasopressin deficiency after transsphenoidal surgery to remove a pituitary adenoma. Read more here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-72486-w

Pituitary apoplexy strikes groom on wedding day

An article in People.com tells the story of a groom in England who had to leave his wedding reception early due to a severe headache – one that turned out to be a hemorrhaging pituitary tumor. Read more here: https://people.com/groom-migraine-wedding-day-tumor-popped-8718083

Researchers try to make synthetic oxytocin for pain relief

An article in the Focus.news looks at efforts to replicate the hormone oxytocin in the lab – in an effort to develop a painkiller that would be safer than opioids. Read more here: https://www.thefocus.news/lifestyle/scientists-are-hoping-to-replicate-the-cuddle-hormone-for-healthy-long-term-pain-relief/

New acromegaly drug on the horizon

A new drug for treatment and long-term maintenance therapy for acromegaly is now on the horizon. Crinetics Pharmaceuticals recently submitted its first new drug application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for paltusotine, which is a once-daily oral selectively-targeted somatostatin receptor type 2 nonpeptide agonist.

Crinetics says researchers used data from from 18 clinical trials in the application, including two Phase 3 trials that evaluated paltusotine for acromegaly in medically untreated and treated patients.   Patients tolerated the treatment well, the medication achieved biochemical control by maintaining IGF-1 levels and improved patients’ symptoms compared to placebo.   The company says it expects to hear back from the FDA by December.

Paltusotine, is the first drug of its type to complete Phase 3 clinical development for acromegaly and is now in Phase 2 clinical development for carcinoid syndrome associated with neuroendocrine tumors.  Read the company’s press release here. 

Can machine learning to predict hormone deficiency after pituitary surgery?

A study featured on Nature.com used machine learning algorithms to predict whether patients would develop arginine vasopressin deficiency after transsphenoidal surgery to remove a pituitary adenoma. Read more here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-72486-w

Pituitary apoplexy strikes groom on wedding day

An article in People.com tells the story of a groom in England who had to leave his wedding reception early due to a severe headache – one that turned out to be a hemorrhaging pituitary tumor. Read more here: https://people.com/groom-migraine-wedding-day-tumor-popped-8718083

Researchers try to make synthetic oxytocin for pain relief

An article in the Focus.news looks at efforts to replicate the hormone oxytocin in the lab – in an effort to develop a painkiller that would be safer than opioids. Read more here: https://www.thefocus.news/lifestyle/scientists-are-hoping-to-replicate-the-cuddle-hormone-for-healthy-long-term-pain-relief/

Musician battles craniopharyngioma

An Irish DJ and music producer with the group Bicep named Matt McBriar is recovering after surgery for a large craniopharyngioma.  Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/bicep-s-matt-mcbriar-treated-for-large-and-pretty-rare-brain-tumour/ar-AA1oLDvU?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

Social media obsession with “cortisol face” masks true pituitary origin

The term “cortisol face” is sweeping social media, with influencers claiming that stress causes high cortisol levels and leads to puffy cheeks, or “moon facies” that can  be treated with diet, creams or lifestyle changes. But doctors say this is misinformation – and true moon facies come from a pituitary disorder. Read more: https://athletechnews.com/cortisol-face/

New study challenges link between cadaver growth hormone and Alzheimer’s

A new study raises objections to past research that linked cadaver-derived human growth hormone with Alzheimer’s disease.  Read more: https://www.thetransmitter.org/alzheimers-disease/skeptics-challenge-claims-of-alzheimers-disease-transmission-via-growth-hormone/

Pituitary story: At ten years old, 6’3” boy battles gigantism

A story in the Daily Mail recounts the case of a ten-year-old boy from the U.K. names Jayson who stands 6’3” tall and battles pituitary gigantism. Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13489681/rare-condition-harsh-realities-tallest-kid-world.html

Pituitary story: 62-year-old Indian man undergoes transsphenoidal surgery

An article in City Air news looks at the case of a man in India who had transnasal transsphenoidal surgery to remove a pituitary tumor. Read more:

https://www.cityairnews.com/content/doctors-remove-complex-brain-tumor-in-62-yr-old-man-through-nasal-route-restore-his-vision

Pituitary story: Rare 7 cm Pituitary Macroadenoma

A story on The Health Site.com looks at the case of a 63-year-old woman in India who underwent transnasal transsphenoidal surgery to remove a 7 centimeter long pituitary macroadenoma. Read more here: https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/rare-large-tumor-removed-from-63-year-old-womans-pituitary-gland-1111633/

Spontaneous remission of Cushing’s in 14-year-old

A story in Cushing’s Disease News looks at the case of a 14-year-old South American girl with Cushing’s, whose disease went into remission after pituitary apoplexy. Read more: https://cushingsdiseasenews.com/news/rare-case-spontaneous-remission-cushings-disease-reported/

Schizophrenia and a Partially-Empty Sella

An article in Cureus looks at the case of a man whose schizophrenia worsened after 20 years, leading to the discovery of a partially empty sella. Read more: https://www.cureus.com/articles/267874-a-case-report-of-schizophrenia-with-a-partially-empty-sella-related-or-incidental#!/

Once-a-month injectable for acromegaly well-tolerated

The once-monthly octreotide subcutaneous depot finished a 52-week long-term safety study. Researchers found that patients tolerated the drug well and that the drug is was safe and boosted biochemical control. Read more: https://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/growthdisorders/111212