Pluvicto Supply Shortage Update: What SNMMI Is Doing

March 8, 2023

The Story

A supply problem with Pluvicto [¹⁷⁷Lu-vipivotide tetraxetan; Novartis], the radiopharmaceutical used to treat metastatic prostate cancer, has led to shortages resulting in a delay of 3 months or longer for new patients, which is having a profound negative impact on patient care.^1,2

Novartis is prioritizing patients who have received at least one dose and are currently in treatment, followed by those who are in the scheduling system awaiting their first dose. The company has stated that it will not accept new patient starts until the Millburn, NJ, manufacturing site is approved by the FDA, which they project will take 4 to 6 months.

Why It’s Important

The FDA approved Pluvicto in March 2022 to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The therapy was shown to significantly improve overall survival.

Currently, only one site (Novartis facility in Ivrea, Italy) is approved by the FDA to manufacture ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617 for commercial use. Each small batch made has only a 5-day window to reach the intended patient; any disruption in the production or shipping process can create a delay. If that delay extends beyond the 5-day window, the dose must be destroyed and the patient rescheduled, which then has ripple effects through the waiting list and patient treatment schedule.

What SNMMI Is Doing

SNMMI is pursuing several pathways to help resolve this crisis, including:

• Sending a letter to the FDA this week about potential options, including expedited review for the Millburn, NJ, manufacturing site.
• Further discussing the situation with Novartis leadership, who are creatively investigating all options.
• Working with patient groups to enlist their assistance in petitioning the FDA regarding the drug shortage and to ensure the patient voice is being heard.
• Discussing other potential options to help alleviate the shortage with the nuclear medicine community.
  
  

What’s Next

SNMMI will continue discussions with Novartis and the FDA to propose other potential options to help alleviate the shortage.

Novartis’s manufacturing site in Millburn, NJ, can produce Pluvicto for use with research patients and has applied for expedited FDA review for commercial production; if approved, the review would take 4-6 months. In addition, Novartis is building a new manufacturing facility for Pluvicto in Indianapolis, which they expect will be operational by the end of 2023.

Several new compounds are in phase 3 clinical trials, including, for example, SPLASH (NCT0464752, POINT Biopharma/Lantheus) and ECLIPSE (NCT05204927, Curium). It is possible that enrollment in clinical trials may be the only way that new patients who have metastatic prostate cancer and are eligible for Pluvicto may receive PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy in the U.S. Similar treatments may be available outside of the U.S.

SNMMI is very concerned about this situation and will work vigorously to help make lifesaving/life-prolonging radiopharmaceutical therapies available to patients in need.

Notes

1. Ravi P, Whelpley B, Kelly E, et al. Clinical Implementation of ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617 in the United States: Lessons Learned and Ongoing Challenges. J Nucl Med. 2023 Mar;64(3):349-350. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.122.265194
2. Czernin J, Calais J. The ¹⁷⁷Lu-PSMA-617 (Pluvicto) Supply Problem Will Be Solved by Competition. J Nucl Med. 2023 Mar;64(3):343. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.123.265459