Illuccix therapy gets approval in the UK

Imaging agent to improve prostate cancer detection

Telix Pharmaceuticals has announced that the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the Marketing Authorization Application for its prostate cancer PET imaging agent, Illuccix.

The agent is designed for detecting and localizing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive lesions in adults with prostate cancer using PET.

This is a significant advancement in prostate cancer management, replacing conventional imaging methods like bone scans and CT scans as the standard of care after initial diagnosis and biochemical recurrence (BCR).

Gary Cook, MD and Professor of Molecular Imaging at King’s College London School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, highlighted the importance of this development, stating, “PSMA-PET supply shortages in the UK and Europe have escalated over the past 12 months as demand increases, which has led to delays for men in urgent need of a scan to direct clinical management.

It is great news that Telix can now help address this unmet need and improve equity of access in the UK through their Illuccix imaging agent and network distribution model.”

Telix’s Chief Executive Officer, Raphaël Ortiz, expressed enthusiasm about bringing Illuccix to physicians and patients in the UK. He said, “PSMA-PET imaging is one of the most important developments in prostate cancer detection in recent years and we are delighted that we can now bring Illuccix to physicians and their patients across the UK.

He added: “A key advantage of Illuccix is that the radioisotope (gallium-68) can be produced using a generator locally, taking just a few minutes with minimal equipment. Reliable service delivery combined with greater scheduling flexibility, including in non-metropolitan locations, will benefit patients, physicians and clinical sites in the UK.”

Illuccix will be distributed in the UK through Telix’s exclusive partner, Xiel Limited, which specialises in nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and diagnostic radiology technologies. Healthcare professionals in the UK can order or inquire about Illuccix availability via email or phone.

This approval marks a significant milestone in improving prostate cancer detection and management, offering new hope for patients and healthcare providers alike.