Depreotide

Summary

Depreotide (99mTc-depreotide) is a synthetic somatostatin analogue radiolabeled with technetium-99m, developed for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). It was marketed as NeoTect/NeoSPECT and approved in the US and EU for characterizing SPNs as malignant or benign. It was subsequently withdrawn from the market primarily for commercial reasons.

Mechanism of Action

Binds to somatostatin receptors (SSTR2, SSTR3, SSTR5) expressed on pulmonary lesions and neuroendocrine tumors; when labeled with Technetium-99m (99mTc), enables scintigraphic imaging of somatostatin receptor-positive tissues in the lung

Routes of Administration

Goals & Uses

• Staging of lung cancerOncology ImagingModerate
• Detection of somatostatin receptor-positive tumorsOncology ImagingModerate
• Characterization of solitary pulmonary nodulesDiagnostic ImagingHigh

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to depreotide or somatostatin analoguesAllergyHigh
• PregnancyPopulationHighPotential fetal risk or insufficient safety data
• BreastfeedingPopulationHighPotential transfer into breast milk or insufficient safety data

Adverse Effects

• Radiation exposureRadiologicalCommon
• Injection site reactionsLocalCommon
• HeadacheNeurologicUncommonPain in the head or upper neck
• Hypersensitivity/allergic reactionImmunologicalRare
• NauseaGastrointestinalUncommonFeeling of sickness or urge to vomit

Drug Interactions

• Octreotide / somatostatin analoguesModerate

Population Constraints

• Renal impairmentOrgan ImpairmentRelative
• Pediatric patientsAgeRelative
• Elderly patientsAgeRelative

Regulatory Status

• European UnionWithdrawnApproved: Imaging of solitary pulmonary nodulesApproved as NeoSPECT; subsequently withdrawn from European markets
• United StatesWithdrawnApproved: Scintigraphic imaging of solitary pulmonary nodules in adultsFDA approved 1999 (NDA 21-074); voluntarily withdrawn from market ~2004 for commercial reasons, not safety

Approved by the FDA in 1999 for imaging of solitary pulmonary nodules. Also approved in Europe (NeoSPECT). Withdrawn from the US and EU markets around 2004–2005 for commercial/business reasons, not for safety concerns.

Evidence & Sources

No sources recorded yet.