Programs and Support
Programs specifically for patients taking Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) include:
- The Sandostatin® Starter Program for coverage of immediate release Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) Injection during initiation of therapy with Sandostatin® LAR Depot
- The Nurse Home Injection Program for eligible patients with acromegaly
- The Nurse Home Injection Program for eligible patients with carcinoid syndrome
- The Patient Assistance Program for qualified indigent patients
Services to support your practice include:
- Schedule an in-office Drug Preparation Demonstration
- Novartis Medical Information and Communication Department
- The Sandostatin® Therapy Support Hotline
- The Novartis Oncology Clinical Trials Hotline
The Sandostatin® Starter Program
The Sandostatin® Starter Program* can provide access to daily immediate release Sandostatin® Injections to qualifying patients in financial need who are being started on therapy with Sandostatin® LAR Depot. To qualify, patients:
- Must be covered by their third-party payer for Sandostatin® LAR Depot
- Have no prescription benefits for immediate release Sandostatin® Injection
- Meet certain income eligibility requirements
- Have one of the following diagnoses: acromegaly, carcinoid syndrome, or VIPomas
To enroll a patient:
- Call 1-877-LAR-HELP and a Sandostatin® Patient Care Consultant will screen the patient for financial eligibility,
OR: - Complete the application form (PDF 194KB).The patient's eligibility will be determined and a Sandostatin® Patient Care Consultant will contact your office
Please keep in mind:
- Acceptance for the Sandostatin® Starter Program is based on financial eligibility
- The program is limited to 1 time per patient
- If the doctor's office is unable to obtain the patient's income, a Sandostatin® Patient Care Consultant will contact the patient to verify the patient's income (the doctor's office must authorize the specialist to contact the patient directly)
- When completing the Sandostatin® Starter Program Application Form, the physician must sign the application and give the full prescription
- A Sandostatin® Patient Care Consultant will arrange for shipping immediate release Sandostatin® Injection directly to the physician's office or to the patient's home for next-day delivery
- The physician may not bill for sample product provided under the program
*Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation reserves the right to discontinue or modify the Sandostatin® Starter Program at any time.
Patient Assistance Program
For patients who do not have the financial means to pay for Sandostatin® LAR Depot, and do not have insurance, Novartis sponsors the Patient Assistance Program (PAP). Please note that PAP cannot assist insured patients with co-payments.
Drug Preparation Demonstrations
Call the Sandostatin® Therapy Support Hotline (1-877-527-4357) to schedule a live, in-office demonstration of the mixing and administration of Sandostatin® LAR Depot.
Novartis Medical Information and Communication Department
For quick and accurate information about specific usages of Sandostatin®, our Medical Information and Communication Department is here for you. Contact us at 1-888-669-6682.
The Sandostatin® Therapy Support Hotline
Get fast answers. Staffed by dedicated Sandostatin® Patient Care Consultants, the Hotline provides timely, accurate answers to your questions about reimbursement, coverage, Sandostatin® LAR Depot, immediate release Sandostatin® Injection, and much more.
Find out what the Sandostatin® LAR Depot Therapy Support Hotline can do for you.
The Novartis Oncology Clinical Trials Hotline
If you would like to propose a clinical trial of Sandostatin® LAR Depot, you may contact the Novartis Oncology Clinical Trials Hotline at 1-800-340-6843.
Important Safety Information
Carcinoid Syndrome:
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is indicated for long-term treatment of the severe diarrhea and flushing episodes associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors and for the long-term treatment of the profuse watery diarrhea associated with VIP-secreting tumors in patients in whom initial treatment with immediate release Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) Injection has been shown to be effective and tolerated.
Important Safety Information:
As with immediate release Sandostatin® Injection, the most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were biliary disorders (62%), gastrointestinal disorders (14% to 38%), and injection-site pain (20% to 50%). Hypoglycemia (4%), hyperglycemia (27%), sinus bradycardia (19%), conduction abnormalities (9%), and arrhythmias (3%) have been reported.
The controlled clinical trials that support the marketing clearance for Sandostatin® LAR Depot did not include determination of effect on tumor size or rate of growth. Sandostatin® LAR Depot is not indicated for tumor shrinkage.
Acromegaly
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is indicated for long-term maintenance therapy in acromegalic patients who have had an inadequate response to surgery and/or radiotherapy, or for whom surgery and/or radiotherapy is not an option. The goal of treatment in acromegaly is to reduce GH and IGF-1 levels to normal.
Important Safety Information:
As with immediate release Sandostatin® Injection, the most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were biliary disorders (52%), gastrointestinal disorders (7% to 36%), and injection-site pain (2% to 11%). Hypoglycemia (2%), hyperglycemia (15%), and hypothyroidism (2%) have been reported. While not measured in acromegalic patients receiving Sandostatin® LAR Depot, ECG changes have been reported in patients receiving immediate release Sandostatin® Injection; the degree to which these abnormalities are related to octreotide acetate is not clear, as many acromegalics have cardiovascular disease. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
