Full Press Release Details
Dana Pizzuti, M.D. Chief Medical and Development Officer
Each year on November 1, the acromegaly community comes together to observe Acromegaly Awareness Day—an important moment in time to raise awareness of this rare endocrine disease and provide support for all those impacted by it. As the Chief Medical and Development Officer at Crinetics, this Acromegaly Awareness Day offers a unique opportunity for me to reflect on the significant progress we have made toward our ambitious goal of developing a new generation of acromegaly treatment. That goal would not be possible without the patients, caregivers and healthcare providers who have been at the center of our development journey the entire way.
Acromegaly is a serious rare disease impacting approximately 27,000 patients in the U.S. alone. It is generally caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland, also known as a pituitary adenoma. It is characterized by progressive and serious systemic complications, often resulting in bone, joint, cardiovascular, metabolic, cerebrovascular, and respiratory disease.
The symptoms of the condition are wide ranging, often severe, and can have a dramatic impact on a person’s quality of life. Surgical removal of pituitary adenomas, if possible, is the preferred initial treatment for most people with acromegaly. Pharmacotherapy is used for people who are not candidates for surgery, or when surgery is unsuccessful in achieving treatment goals—approximately 50 percent of people with acromegaly will require medication to treat their unresolved disease.
In these cases, several peptide analogs mimicking the endogenous ligand somatostatin are available for clinical use. However, these drugs require painful monthly or daily injections, or a strict twice-a-day oral dosing regimen. Additionally, they often fail to fully control the disease for many people, and some may experience inconsistent control.
At Crinetics, we are working diligently to discover and deliver new therapies that are purposefully designed based upon our deep understanding of the endocrine system. I am excited as we have recently moved closer to our goal of developing a new treatment for the acromegaly community—one that is designed to provide consistent and reliable symptom control that, if approved, can be taken orally daily, and thereby not requiring painful injections.
Several weeks ago, we submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for their evaluation of this treatment. Like any drug development program that progresses to this point, there have been significant challenges along the way, but the incredible patients we’ve worked alongside have kept us inspired to move forward and find solutions each and every day.
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the acromegaly patient community for trusting us here at Crinetics and sharing your personal stories, perspectives and knowledge with us. Your voice is a fundamental component in the advancement of the medical knowledge of acromegaly. Additionally, thank you for your participation in our clinical trials. Your contribution plays a crucial role in the discovery of new treatments, therapies, and procedures for acromegaly and ultimately will help improve health outcomes for others in the future.
Acromegaly is a challenging disease that urgently warrants greater attention from the pharmaceutical community. On this day and for the future, we remain dedicated to raising awareness of its impact on patients’ lives and the development of new treatments that can make a meaningful difference for patients. I hope that you all will join us on this journey because together, we can make a difference.