The total synthesis of the octacosapeptide corresponding to the proposed primary structure of porcine somatostatin-28, a possible precursor of somatostatin, is described. The primary structure of somatostatin-28 corresponds to that of somatostatin elongated at the N-terminus by a tetradecapeptide sequence. The synthesis has been performed using the strategy of overall acid labile side chain protection based on tert-butanol and adamantol derived protecting groups in combination with the S-tert-butylthio group for the reversible blocking of the cysteine thiol functions and the Nα -2-nitrophenylsulfenyl group for the chain elongation steps. Upon assembly in sequence order of the four suitably protected fragments related to sequence 18-28, 15-17, 8-14 and 1-7, respectively, reductive cleavage of the S-tert-butylthio groups from the fully protected octacosapeptide, followed by acidolytic deprotection via exposure to trifluoroacetic acid and subsequent air oxidation led to crude somatostatin-28. Purification by gel filtration on Biogel P 6 and ion exchange chromatography on Biogel CM 2 produced the desired product in satisfactory yields and at a high degree of purity as judged from different analytical tests. The correctness of the proposed primary structure was ultimately proofed by comparative analysis of the synthetic and natural product by means of chromatographic, immunological and biological assays