Patterns of Use and Clinical Outcomes with Long-Acting Somatostatin Analogues for Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Nationwide French Retrospective Cohort Study in the Real-Life Setting

Introduction Long-acting somatostatin analogues such as lanreotide autogel (LAN) and octreotide long-acting release (OCT) are recommended as first-line treatment for patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). However, only few real-world studies have compared the two medications. This retrospective, observational cohort study used a French claims database to compare patterns of use with LAN vs. OCT in patients with NETs. Methods Data on LAN and OCT patterns of use were obtained retrospectively from the National System of Health Data (SNDS), a national French claims database. Patients 18 years of age or older who initiated treatment for NETs between 2009 and 2016, and who received at least six subsequent dispensings of first-line LAN or OCT during the first year of treatment, were included. A subgroup analysis was performed on patients with gastroenteropancreatic (GEP)-NETs. Results Patients receiving LAN (n = 2327) vs. OCT (n = 2090) had greater median treatment duration (31.8 months vs. 22.1 months, respectively; p < 0.0001; log-rank test) and were less likely to discontinue treatment; adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-0.80). In year 1, a significantly lower percentage of patients receiving LAN vs. OCT switched treatments (10.4% vs. 22.2%, respectively; p < 0.0001), received an average monthly dose per trimester above recommended dose (3.0% vs. 7.3%, respectively; p < 0.0001), and used rescue medication (3.1% vs. 10.0%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Dispensing of pancreatic enzymes was significantly higher in patients receiving LAN than OCT (16.4% vs. 13.9%, respectively). In the subgroup of patients with GEP-NETs, those receiving LAN (n = 1478) vs. OCT (n = 1278) had greater treatment duration and less treatment discontinuation, switching, dosage above the recommended dose, and rescue medication use, but no significant difference in dispensing of pancreatic enzymes or time to second-line treatment. Conclusion These real-world data suggest potential clinical and economic advantages of LAN over OCT in the management of patients with NETs in the French population.