Secretin Human (DB09532): A Comprehensive Monograph on its Pharmacology, Clinical Utility, and Investigational Horizons

1.0 Executive Summary

[Secretin human (DrugBank ID: DB09532) is a synthetic, 27-amino acid peptide hormone that is chemically and biologically identical to endogenous human secretin. Initially recognized over a century ago as the first-ever described hormone, its modern clinical application has been refined into a highly specific diagnostic tool in gastroenterology. Marketed principally under the brand name ChiRhoStim®, this biotech drug serves an indispensable role in the diagnostic evaluation of pancreatic exocrine function, the provocative testing for gastrin-secreting neuroendocrine tumors (gastrinomas), and the procedural facilitation of complex endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Its mechanism of action is centered on its binding to G-protein coupled secretin receptors, primarily stimulating the secretion of a large volume of bicarbonate-rich fluid from the pancreas and biliary tree, thereby neutralizing duodenal acid and creating an optimal environment for digestion.]

[The pharmacological profile of Secretin human is characterized by a rapid onset of action following intravenous administration and a short elimination half-life of approximately 45 minutes. This pharmacokinetic profile is ideally suited for its function as a diagnostic agent, enabling a transient, controlled physiological challenge with a swift return to baseline. However, this same characteristic presents the primary barrier to its use as a chronic therapeutic agent. The safety profile is favorable, with most adverse events being mild and transient, such as nausea and flushing. The most significant clinical risks are not related to direct toxicity but to the potential for diagnostic misinterpretation due to critical pharmacodynamic interactions with common medications like anticholinergics and acid-suppressing agents.]