The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has welcomed the news that 177Lu-PSMA-617, a potent radioactive medicine has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating some advanced prostate cancers.
Lu-PSMA works as a ‘guided missile’ seeking out cancer by detecting the presence of a target molecule called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is present on the surface of cancer cells, but not healthy ones. Once in contact, it delivers a radioactive payload to destroy them.
The approval means those with advanced prostate cancer previously treated with at least one targeted hormone treatment – such as enzalutamide or abiraterone – alongside taxane chemotherapy will be able to access the treatment in the US. It raises hopes that the medicine, could next be approved in Europe.
Read more at: https://www.icr.ac.uk/news-archive/icr-welcomes- fda-approval-of-search-and-destroy-treatment