Lumark

Active Substance: lutetium, isotope of mass 177
Common Name: lutetium, isotope of mass 177
ATC Code: V09
Marketing Authorisation Holder: I.D.B. Radiopharmacy B.V.
Active Substance: lutetium, isotope of mass 177
Status: Authorised
Authorisation Date: 2015-06-19
Therapeutic Area: Radionuclide Imaging
Pharmacotherapeutic Group: Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals

Therapeutic indication

Lumark is a radiopharmaceutical precursor. It is not intended for direct use in patients. This medicinal must be used only for the radiolabelling of carrier molecules, which have been specifically developed and authorised for radiolabelling with this radionuclide.

What is Lumark and what is it used for?

Lumark contains the radioactive compound lutetium (¹⁷⁷Lu) chloride and is used for radiolabelling other medicines. Radiolabelling is a technique for tagging (or labelling) medicines with radioactive compounds so they can carry radioactivity to where it is needed in the body, for example the site of a tumour.

Lumark is only to be used to radiolabel medicines that have been specifically developed for use with lutetium (¹⁷⁷Lu) chloride.

How is Lumark used?

Lumark is only used by specialists who have experience in radiolabelling.

Lumark is never given to a patient on its own. Radiolabelling with Lumark takes place in a laboratory setting. The radiolabelled medicine is then given to the patient according to the instructions in that medicine’s product information.

How does Lumark work?

The active substance in Lumark, lutetium (¹⁷⁷Lu) chloride, is a radioactive compound that mainly emits a type of radiation known as beta radiation, with small amounts of gamma radiation. When a medicine is radiolabelled with Lumark, the medicine carries the radiation to where it is needed in the body, either to kill cancer cells (when used for treatment) or to obtain images on a screen (when used in diagnosis).

What benefits of Lumark have been shown in studies?

Because the use of lutetium (¹⁷⁷Lu) to radiolabel medicines is well established, the company presented data from the scientific literature. Several published studies have established the usefulness of lutetium (¹⁷⁷Lu) in radiolabelling medicines for diagnosing and treating neuroendocrine tumours. This is a group of tumours that affect hormone-secreting cells in many parts of the body, including the pancreas, intestine, stomach and lungs.

The benefits of Lumark will largely depend on the medicine that it is used to radiolabel.

What are the risks associated with Lumark?

The side effects with Lumark depend largely on the medicine it is used with and will be described in that medicine’s package leaflet. Lumark itself is radioactive, and as with any other radioactive product, its use may carry a risk of developing cancer and hereditary defects. However, the quantity of Lumark to be used is very small and therefore these risks are considered low. The doctor will ensure that the expected benefit to the patients of using Lumark outweigh the risks linked to the radioactivity.

The most common side effects with Lumark (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) are anaemia (low red blood cell counts), thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet counts), leucopenia (low white blood cell counts), and lymphopenia (low levels of lymphocytes, a particular type of white blood cell).

Medicines radiolabeled with Lumark must not be used in pregnant women or women who may be pregnant. For the full list of all side effects and restrictions with Lumark, see the package leaflet. Information on restrictions that apply specifically to medicines radiolabelled with Lumark will be found in the package leaflets of those medicines.

Why is Lumark approved?

The European Medicines Agency considered that the use of lutetium (¹⁷⁷Lu) for radiolabelling medicines was well established and well documented in the scientific literature. As with all radiolabelling materials for medicines, there are risks linked to radiation exposure from Lumark. Information on how to minimise the risks is included in the product information for Lumark.

The Agency concluded that the benefits of Lumark outweigh the risks and recommended that it be given marketing authorisation.

What measures are being taken to ensure the safe and effective use of Lumark?

Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Lumark have been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.

Other information about Lumark

The European Commission granted a marketing authorisation valid throughout the European Union for Lumark on 19 June 2015.

For more information about treatment with Lumark, read the package leaflet (also part of the EPAR) or contact your doctor or pharmacist.

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