Only 9 days after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved radium RA 223 dichloride (Xofigo) for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) on May 15, 2013, which was 3 months ahead of the scheduled FDA review, the first worldwide commercial dose of this new therapy was administered to a patient with advanced CRPC. This event was made possible by a joint effort between 3 urology clinics in Myrtle Beach, SC, that constitute a division of 21st Century Oncology.
“We are proud to begin offering Xofigo infusion on a broader scale to more patients who would otherwise have limited or potentially less effective treatments for late stage prostate cancers,” said Neal Shore, MD, FACS, a urologist associated with this group. “We are looking forward to this treatment helping our patients improve their quality of life as well as extending their survival.”
Because the treatment is so new, health plans have not yet established reimbursement guidelines; however, the manufacturer has established a patient assistance program through Xofigo Access Services to help secure coverage and access to this therapy. (21st Century Oncology; May 30, 2013)
