Those dealing with prostate cancer will soon have a new treatment available to them.
On March 7, the Government of Alberta announced that following discussions with its manufacturer Pluvicto is being made for Alberta cancer patients.
Pluvicto is a new radiopharmaceutical treatment for advanced prostate cancer.
"We know that Albertans living with advanced prostate cancer and their health providers have been awaiting access to this new treatment," said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health. "Bringing Pluvicto to our province has been a priority for the government, and I’m pleased we can now offer this leading therapy to Albertans.”
Around 2,500 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year; one in six men is likely to be diagnosed in their lifetime.
Alberta is the third province to add the drug as a cancer treatment, behind Ontario and Nova Scotia.
Once available, likely towards the end of the month, the drug will be available to patients in an outpatient setting at Cross Cancer Centre in Edmonton to start before becoming available at the new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary later in the year.
Administered in an outpatient setting, Pluvicto is an intravenous treatment which contains a radioligand, "a substance that combines a targeting molecule with a small amount of radiation."
The radioligand binds to a receptor site on the prostate cancer cells, delivering targeted radiation and killing them.
Prior to the treatment, patients will undergo a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/Computed tomography (PET/CT) scan to ensure they have the correct receptors.
The PSMA PET/CT scans are part of $5 million funding allocated in 2024 to help diagnose advanced prostate cancer.
"When we partnered with Alberta Health to bring PSMA-PET imaging technology to Alberta in 2021, we knew it would be transformative," said Wendy Beauchesne, the CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation. "We are thrilled it’s led to this emerging new treatment being offered – a breakthrough moment and incredible news for men with advanced prostate cancer.”
The province estimates that around 200 advanced prostate cancer patients per year will have the receptor needed to benefit from the Pluvicto treatment.
"The Government of Alberta's decision to publicly fund Pluvicto offers renewed hope for Albertans facing advanced prostate cancer with limited options," said Mark Vineis, the CEO of Novartis Canada. "This important step demonstrates a shared commitment from government, healthcare providers and industry to address the unmet needs of these patients. We applaud Alberta's leadership in advancing cancer care and remain committed to ensuring Canadians in all provinces have access to this innovative treatment.”
The drug is funded as part of a national drug pricing agreement which was reached in December 2024 and is being added to the schedule of Outpatient Cancer Drugs.
-Editor's note: This story was updated to correct where the drug would be administered once available following an update from the province.
