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Ontario first in Canada to fund prostate cancer care treatment

ONTARIO—The Ontario government is connecting more people to care by being the first Canadian jurisdiction to publicly fund and administer PLUVICTO, a new treatment for advanced-stage prostate cancer, which is now covered under the province’s publicly funded drug program.

“Our government is giving people access to more treatment options by expanding public access to new medications and treatments,” said Sylvia Jones, Ontario minister of health.

“We are excited to celebrate the administration of the first dose of PLUVICTO in partnership with London Health Sciences Centre, as one more way our government is connecting more people to the care they need when they need it,” said Minister Jones.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Canada, affecting one in 9 men during their lifetime. PLUVICTO is a targeted radioligand therapy that utilizes lutetium-177, a medical isotope, in combination with a targeting compound, ligand, to treat advanced prostate cancer.

The province is working with hospital partners to implement PLUVICTO as a standard treatment for those with advanced-stage prostate cancer. Over the coming months, it is anticipated PLUVICTO will be available for eligible patients at most of Ontario’s Cancer Treatment Centres.

Ontario is a world leader in the production of life-saving medical isotopes. In 2022, Bruce Power’s Unit 7 became the first power reactor in the world to produce lutetium-177. Through the installation of a second isotope production line at the Bruce nuclear station, the province is taking action to double the production of lutetium-177 at the Bruce site to help meet growing demand.

“Our government is proud to be the first in Canada to administer a publicly funded dose of PLUVICTO, a lifesaving treatment for advanced-staged prostate cancer, now publicly funded for patients across Ontario,” said Stephen Lecce, minister of energy and electrification. “With over 247,000 Canadians diagnosed with cancer each year, including in my own family, this groundbreaking initiative highlights Ontario’s nuclear leadership in medical isotope production and ensures that patients have access to cutting-edge care that will save lives.”

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Expositor Staff
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