Rethinking somatostatin

Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc. received $40 million to show its oral somatostatin agonist is effective in more acromegaly patients than somatostatin analogs now on or near to market. The series A round was led by 5AM Ventures, Versant Ventures and Vivo Capital, and is expected to take the preclinical compound through Phase II testing.

The market-leading acromegaly drug is Sandostatin LAR depot octreotide acetate from Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN). The somatostatin analog is administered monthly by healthcare professionals via a large-bore needle...