June 2026
• Prostate cancer is a growing health challenge in India, withover 250,000 cases1 annually and more than half detected atadvanced stages, underscoring the urgent need for earlierdiagnosis and improved access to advanced treatment options.
• Radioligand therapy introduces a more targeted treatment approach with the potential to delay disease progression, support overall survival in defined settings, and improve quality of life for patients.
• Pluvicto is the country’s first regulatory authority approvedradioligand therapy, marking a significant step forward in precision oncology for advanced prostate cancer.
• The launch of Pluvicto reflects Novartis’ continued commitment to bringing innovative, regulatory-approved therapies that are manufactured in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant facilities, reflecting high standards of quality and safety.
In a major advancement for cancer care in India, Novartis India announced the launch of Pluvicto(lutetium (177Lu) vipivotidetetraxetan), the country’s first regulatory authority approved radioligand therapy for eligible patients with Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-positive prostate cancer. Designed toprecisely target prostate cancer cells while minimizing exposureto healthy tissues, Pluvicto introduces a new treatment approach for metastatic prostate cancer, a disease that continues to place a significant physical and emotional burden on patients and families across India.
The launch comes at a time when prostate cancer is emerging asone of India’s fastest-growing cancer burdens among men.Prostate cancer is now among the top three cancers affectingurban men in India, with nearly 250,000 cases1 every year. Approximately 50% of diagnosed patients3 present at a metastatic stage, where treatment becomes significantly more complex due to poorer prognosis, treatment-related side effects, and challenges in treatment sequencing.
Judith Love, Region Head Asia Pacific Middle EastAfrica, Novartis, said, “India is a priority market for Novartis,with growing momentum in precision oncology and advancedcancer care. The introduction of Pluvicto marks a meaningful step forward – bringing globally approved innovation closer to patients who need more targeted treatment options. What makesthis launch especially impactful is not just the science, but theopportunity to expand access through India’s growing nuclearmedicine infrastructure. We remain committed to enabling access to next-generation treatments, and I’m excited about the difference Pluvicto can make for patients in India.”
Amitabh Dube, Country President and Managing Director, Novartis India, said, “In India, a large proportion of prostate cancer patients continue to be diagnosed only after thedisease has progressed to a metastatic stage, limiting treatmentoptions and impacting quality of life. With the launch of Pluvicto, we are bringing a globally recognized radioligand therapy platform to India at a time when the need for precision oncology solutions is increasing rapidly. Beyond the therapy itself, our focus is on building long-term partnerships with hospitals andhealthcare stakeholders to help strengthen access pathways, multidisciplinary collaboration, and readiness for the future of nuclear medicine in India.”
“India’s nuclear medicine ecosystem has expanded significantly over the past decade and today includes more than 250 nuclearmedicine3 centres across the country. Novartis plans tocollaborate with healthcare institutions, oncologists, nuclear medicine specialists, and hospital partners to support treatment readiness and multidisciplinary care pathways for eligible patients.”
“Pluvicto will be made available through select hospitals andnuclear medicine centres across India as part of Novartis’ partnership-led approach for bringing radioligand therapies to India. The company is also working with healthcare stakeholders to strengthen awareness, and infrastructure preparedness for precision oncology care.”
