For better cancer care in India, Novartis India has announced the launch of Pluvicto (lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan), the country’s first regulatory authority approved radioligand therapy for eligible patients with Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-positive prostate cancer. 

Designed to precisely target prostate cancer cells while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues, Pluvicto introduces a new treatment approach for metastatic prostate cancer, a disease that continues to place a significant physical and emotional burden on patients and families across India, the company said.

Today prostate cancer is emerging as one of India’s fastest-growing cancer burdens among men. Prostate cancer is now among the top three cancers affecting urban men in India, with nearly 250,000 cases every year. 

Approximately 50% of diagnosed patients present at a metastatic stage, where treatment becomes significantly more complex due to poorer prognosis, treatment-related side effects, and challenges in treatment sequencing, the company said.

Judith Love, Region Head Asia Pacific Middle East Africa, Novartis, said, “India is a priority market for Novartis, with growing momentum in precision oncology and advanced cancer care. The introduction of Pluvicto marks a meaningful step forward – bringing globally approved innovation closer to patients who need more targeted treatment options.”

“What makes this launch especially impactful is not just the science, but the opportunity to expand access through India’s growing nuclear medicine infrastructure. We remain committed to enabling access to next-generation treatments, and I’m excited about the difference Pluvicto can make for patients in India,” she added.

Amitabh Dube, Country President and Managing Director, Novartis India, said, “In India, a large proportion of prostate cancer patients continue to be diagnosed only after the disease has progressed to a metastatic stage, limiting treatment options and impacting quality of life.”

“With the launch of Pluvicto, we are bringing a globally recognized radioligand therapy platform to India at a time when the need for precision oncology solutions is increasing rapidly,” he said.

“Beyond the therapy itself, our focus is on building long-term partnerships with hospitals and healthcare stakeholders to help strengthen access pathways, multidisciplinary collaboration, and readiness for the future of nuclear medicine in India,” he added.

India’s nuclear medicine ecosystem has expanded significantly over the past decade and today includes more than 250 nuclear medicine centres across the country. 

Novartis plans to collaborate with healthcare institutions, oncologists, nuclear medicine specialists, and hospital partners to support treatment readiness and multidisciplinary care pathways for eligible patients.

Pluvicto will be made available through select hospitals and nuclear medicine centres across India as part of Novartis’ partnership-led approach for bringing radioligand therapies to India.