FDA green light for Novartis' Pluvicto

Swiss pharma giant Novartis (NOVN: VX) edged up 1% today after it announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) (formerly referred to as 177Lu-PSMA-617) for the treatment of adult patients with a certain type of advanced cancer called prostate-specific membrane antigen–positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (PSMA-positive mCRPC) that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).

These patients have already been treated with other anticancer treatments (androgen receptor pathway inhibition and taxane-based chemotherapy).

“The approval of Pluvicto is an important clinical advancement for people with progressing mCRPC, as it can significantly improve survival rates for those who have limited treatment options,” said Dr Oliver Sartor, medical director at Tulane Cancer Center, adding: “Pluvicto is a step forward in the evolution of precision medicine for prostate cancer.”