Health
Prostate cancer drug now available to more patients with aggressive form of disease
A newly expanded prostate cancer drug could bring new hope to patients with a common form of the disease.
Novartis, a Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company, announced on March 28 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded approval for Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan), a targeted radioligand therapy (RLT) that is given before chemotherapy.
(RLTs are a form of targeted nuclear medicine that doctors use to treat multiple types of cancer, according to Novartis.)
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The drug is intended for patients with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have received one round of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs), a class of drugs used in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer.
A newly expanded prostate cancer drug could bring new hope to patients with a common form of the disease. (iStock)
Pluvicto first got FDA approval on March 23, 2022, but this new expanded approval triples the number of patients eligible to receive the drug, according to a Novartis press release.
The drug is administered through an IV into the bloodstream, where it attaches to prostate cancer cells and either keeps them from replicating or kills them.
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“The earlier indication for Pluvicto could really change our treatment paradigms for patients with mCRPC,” said lead study author Michael Morris, MD, prostate cancer section head at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
“It offers a targeted therapy that better delays disease progression compared to a second ARPI. This approval is a significant step forward and should open the doorway to a therapy that has clear clinical advantages for the patient with mCRPC who has progressed on one ARPI and has not received chemotherapy.”
In clinical trials, Pluvicto “significantly reduced the risk of progression or death” by 59%.
This is a form of prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and does not respond to standard hormone therapy, according to WebMD.
It also has high levels of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a protein produced by prostate cancer cells.
In clinical trials, Pluvicto “significantly reduced the risk of progression or death” by 59% in mCRPC patients, Novartis reported.
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“The FDA’s expanded approval of [lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan] marks a transformative step forward in the treatment of mCRPC, underscoring the growing impact of precision oncology,” Jorge A. Garcia, MD, a genitourinary medical oncologist and chair of the Solid Tumor Oncology Division at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, told OncLive.
“By enabling access to this targeted radioligand therapy prior to chemotherapy, we are not only broadening treatment options, but also redefining the standard of care for PSMA-positive disease.”
“By enabling access to this targeted radioligand therapy prior to chemotherapy, we are not only broadening treatment options, but also redefining the standard of care for PSMA-positive disease,” a researcher said. (iStock)
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death among men; mCRPC makes up a majority of the deaths and 20% of all metastatic prostate cancer cases.
Studies have shown that approximately 10% to 20% of patients with prostate cancer develop mCRPC within five years of follow-up after initial therapy, and cases of metastatic patients have risen 4% to 5% each year since 2011.
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Sixty percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, according to the American Cancer Society. The risk of being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer typically occurs between 65 and 74.
Adverse effects of Pluvicto included dry mouth (61%), fatigue (53%), nausea (32%) and constipation (22%), the release stated.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death among men; mCRPC makes up a majority of the deaths and 20% of all metastatic prostate cancer cases. (iStock)
The patients receiving the drug were able to proceed with chemotherapy after taking it.
Novartis is committed to delivering Pluvicto to the nearly 600 RLT treatment sites in the U.S., the company stated.
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Looking ahead, Novartis said it plans to investigate the use of RLTs for other types of advanced cancers, including breast, colon, neuroendocrine, lung and pancreatic cancers.
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Joe Rogan has joined the growing tribe of teetotalers.
On a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” the podcaster, 57, said he has given up drinking alcohol.
“I think I’m done,” he said. “For no reason, other than that, it’s not good for you.”
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Rogan noted that he didn’t have to quit and that he enjoyed it, but that the days after drinking were “just too rough.”
On a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” the podcaster, 57, said he has given up drinking alcohol. (Getty Images)
“And I’m like, ‘What kind of a moron who takes so good care of his body is poisoning himself a couple days a week for fun?’” he went on. “Why am I doing that?”
Rogan, who is also a UFC commentator, said he asked himself, “Will I still have the same amount of fun if I don’t poison myself?”
‘”It turns out, yes,” he said.
“I think I’m done,” he said. “For no reason, other than that, it’s not good for you.”
Other celebrities that have been open about their alcohol cessation include Brad Pitt, Rob Lowe, Valerie Bertinelli, Bradley Cooper and Elle MacPherson.
Quitting alcohol may be one of the most impactful, modifiable risk factors for age-related disease and obesity, second only to quitting tobacco, according to Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert.
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“Alcohol is a neurotoxin that disrupts neurotransmission, promotes neuroinflammation, and has been directly linked to an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia,” he told Fox News Digital.
It also harms the body, he warned, impairing glucose metabolism and interfering with blood sugar regulation.
“And I’m like, ‘What kind of a moron who takes so good care of his body is poisoning himself a couple days a week for fun?’” Rogan said. “Why am I doing that?” (Getty Images)
“It contributes to metabolic dysfunction and visceral fat accumulation and increases the likelihood of type 2 diabetes,” he said.
“Long and short: Alcohol makes you fat. It’s a source of unnecessary excess calories.”
Studies have also shown that alcohol is a carcinogen, associated with higher rates of liver, breast, esophageal, colon and head/neck cancers — even with low levels of consumption, Osborn noted.
“When someone quits drinking, the benefits are immediate and profound,” he said.
Studies have shown that alcohol is a carcinogen, associated with higher rates of liver, breast, esophageal, colon and head/neck cancers — even with low levels of consumption. (iStock)
“Sleep improves within days, energy levels rebound, inflammation subsides, your joints no longer hurt and insulin sensitivity returns.”
After ditching alcohol, which is a depressant, people typically have a newfound motivation to exercise and pursue other healthy habits, the doctor added.
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GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic and Wegovy — which were originally developed for type 2 diabetes and are now being used for weight loss — have also shown early promise in helping individuals reduce alcohol intake.
GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic and Wegovy — which were originally developed for type 2 diabetes and are now being used for weight loss — have also shown early promise in helping individuals reduce alcohol intake. (iStock)
“My patients on these medications not only notice significant appetite suppression, but their ‘thirst’ for alcohol is dramatically tempered,” Osborn said. “Most stop drinking altogether within six to 12 months.”
The neurosurgeon predicts that these medications may soon be part of a dual-approach strategy — “facilitating abstinence from alcohol while simultaneously promoting fat loss and improving a person’s metabolic health, thereby reducing their risk of nearly all non-infectious age-related diseases.”
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“Remember, we no longer die of tuberculosis or The Plague, but ‘manmade’ diseases, some of which start in the still.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Joe Rogan for comment.
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