India Approves First Targeted Precision Therapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer: Understanding How Pluvicto Works

Summary:
Novartis has introduced Pluvicto, India’s first approved radioligand therapy for advanced prostate cancer. Designed for patients with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, the treatment delivers targeted radiation directly to cancer cells, helping reduce disease progression while limiting damage to healthy tissue. Clinical studies have shown improved survival outcomes and quality of life for patients. The therapy will be available through selected hospitals and nuclear medicine centres across India, expanding access to precision cancer treatment in the country. 

Swiss pharmaceutical major Novartis has introduced Pluvicto in India, marking the country’s first regulator-approved radioligand therapy for advanced prostate cancer. The treatment is designed to deliver targeted radiation directly to cancer cells while minimising exposure to healthy tissues. Administered through intravenous infusion, Pluvicto is indicated for patients with Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, a particularly aggressive and difficult-to-treat form of the disease. The medicine is imported from authorised manufacturing facilities located in Spain and Italy.

Novartis cited findings from a global Phase III clinical study showing that Pluvicto significantly lowered the risk of disease progression and death when compared with standard treatment approaches. The trial also demonstrated improvements in patients’ quality of life. Amitabh Dube, Country President and Managing Director of Novartis India, said the launch addresses a critical need, as many prostate cancer cases in India are diagnosed only after the disease has advanced and spread, limiting available treatment options. He noted that the introduction of Pluvicto brings a globally recognised precision oncology therapy to the Indian market at a time when demand for targeted cancer treatments is growing.

Prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers among urban men in India. Data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) places it among the top three cancers affecting men in urban centres, ranking second in cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. Novartis estimates that more than 2.5 lakh new cases are diagnosed annually in the country, with over half of patients identified only after the disease has reached the metastatic stage. According to ICMR-NICPR figures, the five-year survival rate for prostate cancer in India is around 64 per cent overall, but declines to 30 per cent for patients diagnosed at Stage IV.

Radioligand therapy represents an emerging cancer treatment approach that combines a targeting molecule with a radioactive component. Delivered through the bloodstream, the therapy seeks out specific markers on cancer cells. In the case of Pluvicto, the drug targets the PSMA protein, which is present in high concentrations on prostate cancer cells. Once attached, the radioactive element releases radiation that damages and destroys the malignant cells. Unlike conventional radiation therapy and chemotherapy, which can affect healthy cells alongside cancerous ones, radioligand therapy is designed to focus treatment more precisely on tumour cells, thereby reducing unintended damage to surrounding tissue.

Pluvicto is already available in several international markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and countries across the European Union. Novartis reported global sales of $454 million for the drug in 2025, reflecting growth driven largely by expanded approval for earlier use in treatment pathways in the US. With its launch in India, the company is extending access to one of Asia’s largest healthcare markets.

The treatment will be offered through selected hospitals and nuclear medicine centres across the country. Dube highlighted that India’s nuclear medicine infrastructure has expanded significantly over the past decade and now includes more than 250 centres nationwide. Novartis plans to work closely with healthcare providers, oncologists, nuclear medicine experts and hospital partners to strengthen treatment preparedness and support multidisciplinary care for eligible patients. The company also intends to collaborate with medical professionals to improve awareness and readiness for radioligand therapy.

Earlier this year, Novartis divested its controlling stake in the publicly listed Novartis India Ltd through a transaction valued at $159 million. However, the Swiss pharmaceutical company continues to maintain a significant presence in the country through its wholly owned subsidiary, Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd, which oversees its innovative medicines portfolio, research and development activities, and global operations functions in India.