Health Canada approves PLUVICTO™ as first targeted radioligand therapy for progressive PSMA positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Health Canada has authorized PLUVICTO™ for the treatment of certain patients with progressive, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

 

Specifically, PLUVICTO™ has been approved for the treatment of adult patients with PSMA-positive mCRPC who have received at least one androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) and taxane-based chemotherapy.

The press release to announce this news is available HERE:

Health Canada approves PLUVICTO as first targeted radioligand therapy for progressive PSMA positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer | Novartis Canada

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INESSS DaTscan recommendation

Quebec’s Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) became the first Canadian health technology assessment organization to review DaTscan ([123I]ioflupane)and has provided a positive reimbursement recommendation.

For the full summary, see the documents below or you may consult the INESSS website for more information.

INESSS_Ioflupane_Aide-Memoire 20210823.pdf

INESSS_Ioflupane_Avis 20210823.pdf

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News - 2020

December 2020

ISOLOGIC Acquires Diagnostic FDG Distribution From CPDC

Acquisition of the FDG Canadian distribution business from CPDC by Isologic.

Acquisition will provide hospitals, physicians and patients with a more robust and reliable supply chain for critical diagnostic FDG molecules

Follow this link for more information

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October 2020

Stannous DISIDA kits 

The Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre (CRC) has Stannous DISIDA kits available for distribution to Nuclear Medicine departments performing hepatobiliary imaging. It is offered to help mitigate the interim shortage of Mebrofenin kits in Canada and is Health Canada approved.

• Information letter

• DISIDA Package Insert
  

• CRC Order Form

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September 2020

Stannous DISIDA kits 

The Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre (CRC) has Stannous DISIDA kits available for distribution to Nuclear Medicine departments performing hepatobiliary imaging. It is offered to help mitigate the interim shortage of Mebrofenin kits in Canada and is Health Canada approved.

• Information letter

• DISIDA Package Insert
  

• CRC Order Form

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April 2020

Air Transport Improves for Medical Radioisotopes

International air transport has been the main bottleneck in getting radioisotopes and nuclear medicines where they are needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Nuclear Medicine Europe (NMEu) says there are signs the situation is improving.  -  Read more

CANM Guidelines for Imaging of the Dopamine Transport System in Evaluation of Movement Disorders

INTRODUCTION - The Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine (CANM) strives for excellence in the practice of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine by promoting the continued professional competence of nuclear medicine specialists, establishing guidelines of clinical practice, and encouraging biomedical research. We work with all professionals in nuclear medicine to ensure that Canadians have access to the highest quality nuclear medicine services. -- Read more 

BELNUC - Recommendations for performing V/Q scans in the context of COVID-19

The Bottom Line

Substituting ventilation scintigraphy by CT as part of stand-alone perfusion SPECT/CT is not recommended, as this reduces the specificity of the study. Both perfusion and ventilation studies should be performed to rule out pulmonary embolism.   Based on recommendations by the French Society of Nuclear Medicine (SFMN) and the German Nuclear Medicine Society (DGN).

Read more here!

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Please find below an update of the measures taken by Jubilant Radiopharma during the pandemic.

Information:  Click here

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Communitcation From the NMEu Emergency Response Team (ERT) - April 6, 2020

COVID-19 and the Global Supply of Mo-99 & Other Isotopes

The Security of Supply Working Group (SoS WG) Emergency Response Team (ERT) held a teleconference on 6 April 2020 to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Mo-99 and other radioisotope production.  -  Read here

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Communitcation From the NMEu Emergency Response Team (ERT) - March 30, 2020

COVID-19 and the Global Supply of Mo-99 & Other Isotopes

The Security of Supply Working Group (SoS WG) Emergency Response Team (ERT) held a teleconference on 30 March to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Mo-99 and other radioisotope production.  -  Read here

SFMN Working Group Ventilatory and Perfusion Lung Imaging 

Recommendations for performing lung scans in the context of an outbreak of an outbreak of Covid-19 virus¹   -  Read here

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Lantheus

A Message from Lantheus Medical Imaging regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)  -  read here

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March 2020

Cyclomedica

Tgas and COVID Response - read here

Cyclomedica's Statement Regarding Aerosol Generating Procedures - read here

Technegas™ and COVID-19 - Corp Letter - read here

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Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA)

NETSPOT®  Health Canada Approved and Now Available Kit for the Preparation of Gallium (68Ga) Oxodotreotide Injection

Advanced Accelerator Applications S.A. (AAA), a Novartis company is pleased to announce that Health Canada has approved NETSPOT® (kit for the preparation of gallium (68Ga) oxodotreotide injection).

• Information Letter

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Isologic

COVID-19, Message from ISOLOGIC

As measures are being deployed by public health authorities to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we want to assure you that we are monitoring developments very closely and taking actions at our production facilities on a daily basis to protect and support our family of customers and employees with the objective of reducing the risk of propagation of any type of contagious disease and maintaining our operations.

• Information Letter

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News - 2019

November 2019

Availability of Stannous PYP Kit

The Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre (CRC) holds a Drug Establishment Licence and produces a few niche radiopharmaceutical products. At this time the CRC is the only supplier in Canada of a stannous pyrophosphate kit (Stannous PYP Kit) for the preparation of Technetium Tc99m pyrophosphate.

           Information Letter

           Order Form

           Product Package Insert

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March 2019

European School of Medical Imaging Technology (ESMIT)

Because the CANM is an affiliate member of the EANM, our members are given access to the highly regarded European School of Medical Imaging Technology (ESMIT). The European Nuclear Medicine practice is dynamic and has much experience with many procedures which are now finding their way to Canada. As well, they offer perspectives on established practice.

https://www.eanm.org/esmit/

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Availability of Choletec™ (Mebrofenin) – Kit For The Preparation of Technetium Tc-99

BRACCO IMAGING Canada is pleased to inform you that a new lot of Canadian Choletec™ (Mebrofenin) was received at our Montreal facility. We immediately shipped and fulfilled the request for products to Canadian facilities who had an order with BRACCO.

• BRACCO IMAGING Canada Letter

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Stannous DISIDA Kits by the Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre

Alberta Health Services

The Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre (CRC) has Stannous DISIDA Kits available for distribution to Nuclear Medicine departments performing hepatobiliary imaging. This product is being offered to the Nuclear Medicine community-at-large to help mitigate the interim shortage of DISIDA and Mebrofenin kits in Canada.

• Alberta Health Services Letter - Acces to Stannous DISIDA Kit
• DISIDA Kit insert
• 3rd Party Cold Kit Order Form

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Past News - 2018

October 2018

Quality Control in the Production of Radiopharmaceuticals

Advances have led to the production of new radiopharmaceuticals and availability of new production routes. Various new diagnostic agents in the field (such as Ga-68 radiopharmaceuticals and generators) as well as therapeutic agents (such as alpha emitters) have been added to the clinician’s menu. It is essential that radiopharmaceuticals are prepared within a robust quality control system encompassing materials and personnel, with adequate documentation, and continuous review of ongoing results. This publication provides guidelines and best practices for the quality control of medical radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. It was written by a group of experts with experience across a range of radiopharmaceuticals and is intended to support professionals in the preparation of good quality and safe products to be used in nuclear medicine procedures.

Click here for more information.

June 2018

Darlington to supply moly-99

Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) Darlington nuclear power plant is to produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) for use in new technetium-99m (Tc-99m) generators designed by BWX Technologies Inc. The Candu plant will be the first large-scale commercial nuclear power plant in the world to produce Mo-99.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Darlington-to-supply-molybdenum-99-2106187.html

April 2018

Mo-99 Production Activities at NTP Radioisotopes (NTP) and I-131 Supply Situation

NTP reported that it received approval from the South African Nuclear Regulator to return to normal operations through the end of June 2018. During this period, NTP will engage with the NNR to ensure continued normal operation from July 2018 onwards. NTP also stated that as a result of this approval, NTP will be in a position to manufacture I-131 to assist with the international shortage.

March 2018

Emeritus Winner

Dr. John Powe - Vancouver

2018 Eric Lepp Recipient 

Dr. Caroline Malo Pion, Montréal