Fabian Schmidt
Vice President, Head of Medical Affairs – Europe

Acromegaly presents a significant challenge for patients and the clinicians who care for them. The road to diagnosis is frequently prolonged, with symptoms that develop gradually and are commonly attributed to other conditions. During that window, the systemic consequences of excess growth hormone continue to progress, affecting cardiovascular health, metabolic function, and musculoskeletal integrity in ways that may not be fully reversible.¹ Closing that diagnostic gap remains a critical priority for the endocrinology community across Europe.

The challenges for those living with acromegaly extend beyond diagnosis. Long-term management requires sustained commitment from both patients and healthcare providers. Despite meaningful advances in treatment, patients who require ongoing medical therapy often experience a considerable therapy-related burden over time.¹ Symptom burden, treatment logistics, and the cumulative impact of living with a chronic condition are dimensions of acromegaly that are not always reflected in clinical outcomes data, but that have a profound influence on patient experience and adherence. Importantly, recent consensus guidance has reinforced that biochemical control alone does not fully capture clinical disease control, and that patient-reported outcomes deserve greater focus in how we evaluate treatment success.¹

Against that backdrop, the EC’s approval of the first once-daily oral therapy for acromegaly in the EU represents a meaningful advance for patients and the broader endocrinology community. It reflects the scientific progress that has been made in understanding this disease, and acknowledges a need that patients and clinicians have long expressed: options that align with how people actually live.

This milestone also marks an important moment in Crinetics’ growth as a global pharmaceutical company. Our first regulatory approval outside of the U.S. reflects our commitment to expanding access to innovative therapies beyond a single market. With European commercialization operations established in Switzerland and an initial launch focus in Germany and Austria, with plans to establish an international pharmacy program to potentially extend access to acromegaly treatment in the EU, we are investing in the infrastructure and relationships required to serve the European endocrinology community with the same rigor and dedication that has defined our work in the U.S.

Engaging with endocrinologists, patient advocates, and healthcare stakeholders across Europe as this next chapter begins is a priority for our team. The opportunity to contribute to improved outcomes for people living with acromegaly in this region is one we approach with both scientific integrity and deep respect for the patients at the center of this work.

Reference

  1. Melmed S, et al. Consensus on acromegaly therapeutic outcomes: an update. Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-025-01148-2