Oczyesa

Oczyesa is a medicine used for the maintenance (long\-term) treatment of acromegaly, a condition where a pituitary adenoma (a non\-cancerous tumour in a small gland located at the base of the brain) produces too much growth hormone causing high levels of insulin\-like growth factor\-1 (IGF\-1\). This leads to excessive growth of tissues and bones and can also cause diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiovascular disease (conditions affecting the heart and blood circulation). Oczyesa is used in adults who have previously responded to and tolerated treatment with other somatostatin analogues (man\-made (synthetic) versions of the hormone somatostatin). Oczyesa contains the active substance octreotide and is a ‘hybrid medicine’. This means that it is similar to a reference medicine containing the same active substance, but there are certain differences between the two. The reference medicine for Oczyesa is Sandostatin, which is available as a solution for injection at lower strengths than Oczyesa and is also authorised for the treatment of acromegaly.