Sandostatin LAR vs. Surgery in Acromegalics With Macroadenoma

Inclusion Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Male or female patients, 18 years of age or older.

Newly diagnosed patients with acromegaly, or previously untreated.

Presence of a pituitary tumor greater than 10 mm at greatest diameter (macroadenoma).

Lack of suppression of GH to less than 2.0 ng/mL using a regular GH RIA, or less than one
ng/mL using a two-site immunoradiometric or chemiluminescent GH assay, after oral
administration of 100 g of glucose.

IGF-1 levels above the upper limits of normal (adjusted for age and gender).

Demonstrated tolerance to a test dose of s.c. Sandostatin Injection.

Demonstrated responsiveness to a 100 ug s.c. Sandostatin Injection test dose, as evidenced
by suppression of mean 4HR GH to less than 5 ng/mL, or to greater than 50 % of the
baseline value.

Patients who are able to provide written informed consent.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients demonstrating intolerance to a s.c. Sandostatin (octreotide acetate) test dose.

Patients who have received any prior treatment for their acromegaly, including
radiotherapy, octreotide, bromocriptine, lanreotide, or prior surgery.

Female patients who are pregnant or lactating, or are of childbearing potential and not
practicing a medically acceptable method of birth control.

Patients with compression of the optic chiasm significant enough to cause visual field
defects on automated testing.

Patients who require surgery for relief of any neurologic signs or symptoms associated
with their tumor.

Patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis.

Patients who have congestive heart failure (NYHA Class III and IV), unstable angina,
sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or a history of acute
myocardial infarction within the three months preceding study entry.

Patients with liver disease such as cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis or chronic
persistent hepatitis, or persistent ALT, AST, or alkaline phosphatase 2X greater than
upper limit of normal; or direct bilirubin more than 10% greater than upper limit of
normal.

Patients with abnormal clinical laboratory values considered by the Investigator or the
Sponsor's Medical Monitor to be clinically significant and which could affect the
interpretation of the study results.

Patients who have any current or prior medical condition that may interfere with the
conduct of the study or of the evaluation of its result in the opinion of the Investigator
or Sponsor's Medical Monitor.

Patients who have a history of alcohol or drug abuse in the six month period prior to
Visit 1.

Patients who have received any investigational drug within one month prior to Visit 1, or
who plan to take an investigational drug during the study.

Patients with any mental impairment limiting their ability to comply with all study
requirements.

Patients who, for any reason, will be unable to complete the entire study.