Somatostatin analogs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis therapy

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a potentially lethal disease characterized by diffuse multifocal fibrosis. SOM230 (also known as pasireotide), a somatostatin analog, is a potential antifibrotic therapy in early evaluative phase. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of data on the role of somatostatin receptors in pulmonary fibrosis and of in vivo and in vitro SOM230 antifibrotic activities. METHODS/RESULTS: This study assessed somatostatin receptor expression in human normal and IPF lungs, and in animal lungs with bleomycin-induced fibrosis, as well as the effects of SOM230. The overall overexpression of somatostatin receptor subtype 2 and the anti-inflammatory/antifibrotic activities of SOM230 were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: These results are promising for further preclinical and clinical testing of SOM230 as an antifibrotic therapy.