Pasireotide Reference

Plain English

What it is

Pasireotide (brand names Signifor and Signifor LAR) is an FDA-approved prescription medicine given by injection. It is a lab-made copy of a natural body hormone called somatostatin, which dials down certain overactive hormones.

What people use it for

The shorter-acting shot under the skin (Signifor) is approved for adults with Cushing's disease, a condition of too much cortisol, when pituitary surgery is not an option or did not cure them. The long-acting shot into the muscle (Signifor LAR) is approved for acromegaly, a growth-hormone disorder, and also for Cushing's disease. This is a clinician-managed medicine and is not a meaningful pattern of community use.

What the science shows

It is a label-verified, human-tested drug. It works by binding to somatostatin receptors in the body, which lowers the hormones that drive these conditions.

The catch

It often raises blood sugar, sometimes severely, and can trigger new diabetes more than other drugs in its class. It is also linked to gallstones. It is a prescription medicine that needs ongoing medical monitoring.

Reference summary

Pasireotide is a label-verified multireceptor somatostatin analog. pepSmart surfaces label-reference content only.

Regulatory and posture

Categories

Hormonal

Aliases

Signifor, Signifor LAR, Multireceptor somatostatin analog

Evidence posture

human

Regulatory status

FDA-approved prescription medication. Signifor (immediate-release subcutaneous) is approved for Cushing's disease in adults for whom pituitary surgery is not an option or has not been curative; Signifor LAR (long-acting intramuscular depot) is approved for acromegaly.

Content review status

label verified

Related tools

• Injection-site rotation overview - Public overview of the Pro site-rotation planner.