Quebec has implemented public reimbursement of Pluvicto (lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan injection) as of July 2, 2025, marking a significant milestone for radioligand therapy access in Canada. The decision extends coverage to eligible patients with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have previously received androgen receptor pathway inhibition and taxane-based chemotherapy.
Expanding National Access
With Quebec's addition, Pluvicto is now publicly reimbursed in six provinces: Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan. This expansion brings the innovative radioligand therapy to Canada's four most populous provinces, significantly broadening treatment opportunities for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
"We have been looking forward to this day for some time now as it represents a significant breakthrough for people in Quebec who have been longing for access to this much-needed treatment," said Laurent Proulx, President and CEO of PROCURE. "This progress brings real hope to countless patients and highlights how vital it is to make cutting-edge therapies available across Canada."
Clinical Significance and Treatment Integration
The reimbursement decision provides physicians with greater flexibility to integrate radioligand therapy into treatment pathways for appropriate patients with advanced disease. Dr. Frédéric Arsenault, President of the Association des médecins spécialistes en médecine nucléaire du Québec, emphasized the clinical impact of this development.
"Public reimbursement of Pluvicto in Quebec is a meaningful advancement for individuals with PSMA-positive mCRPC who have already undergone multiple lines of treatment," Dr. Arsenault stated. "Expanding access to radioligand therapy, a growing pillar in cancer care, marks a shift toward a new era of precision treatment that reflects the rapidly advancing oncology landscape."
Mechanism of Action and Regulatory Status
Pluvicto represents a precision cancer treatment that combines a targeting compound (ligand) with a therapeutic radioisotope. After intravenous administration, the drug binds to target cells, including prostate cancer cells that express PSMA, a transmembrane protein. Once bound, energy emissions from the radioisotope damage the target cells and nearby cells, disrupting their ability to replicate and triggering cell death.
Health Canada approved Pluvicto in August 2022 as the first targeted radioligand therapy for the treatment of PSMA-positive mCRPC in Canada. The therapy is indicated for adult patients with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have received at least one androgen receptor pathway inhibitor and taxane-based chemotherapy.
Industry Perspective
Mark Vineis, Country President of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., highlighted the growing momentum behind radioligand therapy adoption. "This announcement adds to the growing momentum behind the adoption of Pluvicto and radioligand therapy in prostate cancer care," Vineis said. "It sends a strong signal that this approach is being recognized as a key part of the evolving cancer treatment landscape."
The company continues working with other jurisdictions to maintain progress and ensure eligible patients across the country can access this treatment option. Each provincial listing signals growing recognition of radioligand therapy as an important addition to advanced prostate cancer treatment options, helping to close longstanding treatment gaps for patients with limited therapeutic alternatives.
