New Delhi: Swiss pharma major, Novartis has announced the commercial launch of its targeted radioligand therapy, Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) for the treatment of prostate cancer in India.

The novel drug is first to secure approval in India and caters to patients with Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-positive prostate cancer.

Radioligand therapy (RLT) medicines are a type of precision treatment that pairs a tumor-targeting molecule with a radioactive agent to deliver targeted radiation directly to destroy cancer cells, while sparing healthy tissue.

The new modality carries a therapeutic radioisotope that helps to damage the cancer cell's DNA.

In India the drug will be made available through select hospitals and nuclear medicine centres as part of Novartis’ partnership-led approach. The company is also preparing infrastructure for precision oncology care.

Notably, RLT medicines are highly time sensitive and proximity to treatment facilities is critical to ensure patients receive their therapy on planned dates.

Pluvicto is designed to bind the Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-expressing target cells and the energy emissions from the radioisotope damage the target cells and nearby cells, disrupting their ability to replicate and/or triggering cell death.

Under its pivotal phase 3 trial (VISION), the drug has demonstrated “38 per cent reduction in the risk of death and a meaningful improvement in progression-free survival compared to standard approaches in eligible patients."

Amitabh Dube, Country President and MD Novartis India, said, “a large proportion of prostate cancer patients continue to be diagnosed only after the disease has progressed to a metastatic stage… With the launch of Pluvicto, we are bringing a globally recognized radioligand therapy platform at a time when the need for precision oncology solutions is increasing rapidly."

Source: ET Pharma - June 15,2026