Frequently Asked Questions

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Answers to your questions about LUTATHERA

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions. To learn more about GEP-NETs and their treatment, talk with the members of your care team. They are there to support you throughout your treatment journey.

Should I be concerned about being exposed to medical radiation?

Exposure to medical radiation is a common fear among patients. You may worry about exposing those around you to radiation during your LUTATHERA treatment. Or you may struggle with how to explain it to your family and friends. It’s important to recognize that the risks to those around you are low. By following your healthcare team’s instructions, you can help keep everyone around you safe during your treatment.

During LUTATHERA treatment, it is important for patients to reduce radiation exposure to household contacts consistent with good radiation safety practices. The radiation will be detectable in your urine for up to 30 days following administration of the drug.

Words like “nuclear” and “radioactive” are frightening. Should I be concerned?

In the United States, the use of the radioactive materials for nuclear medicine are regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and individual states to ensure the safety of patients, healthcare teams, and the general public. In addition, regulations require that radiopharmaceuticals can only be prepared and administered by medical professionals who specialize in nuclear medicine, including radiopharmacists, nuclear physicians, and nuclear technologists.

Are there long-term effects from radiation exposure with LUTATHERA?

Treatment with LUTATHERA will expose you to radiation, which can contribute to your long-term radiation exposure. Overall radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk for cancer. The radiation will be detectable in your urine for up to 30 days following administration of the drug. It is important to minimize radiation exposure to household contacts consistent with good radiation safety practices.

Will receiving LUTATHERA affect my fertility or ability to conceive?

Pregnancy status should be verified by the care team for all females who could become pregnant before beginning treatment with LUTATHERA. Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or you or your partner plan to become pregnant before taking LUTATHERA. LUTATHERA can harm your unborn baby. Females should use an effective method of birth control during treatment and for 7 months after the final dose of LUTATHERA. Males with female partners should use an effective method of birth control during treatment and for 4 months after the final dose of LUTATHERA.

Treatment with LUTATHERA may cause infertility. This is because radiation absorbed by your testes or ovaries over the treatment period falls in the range of exposure where temporary or permanent infertility may occur.

Patients who have completed treatment should speak with their healthcare team about the best time to conceive and about the risks for infertility.

What financial support is available?

AAA PatientCONNECT™ provides services to facilitate your access to LUTATHERA treatment.

Patient Help Line: 1-844-638-7222, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM ET

Where can I find a treatment center to receive LUTATHERA?

There are treatment centers at various locations throughout the United States. See them here.

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What is LUTATHERA?

LUTATHERA^® (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of cancer known as gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) that are positive for the hormone receptor somatostatin, including GEP-NETs in the foregut, midgut, and hindgut.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION¹:

What is LUTATHERA?

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION¹:

What are the possible serious side effects of LUTATHERA?

LUTATHERA can cause serious side effects and if you experience these side effects, your healthcare provider may need to adjust or stop your treatment. You should always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions. Serious side effects may include:

Radiation exposure: Treatment with LUTATHERA will expose you to radiation which can contribute to your long-term radiation exposure. Overall radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk for cancer. The radiation will be detectable in your urine for up to 30 days following administration of the drug. It is important to minimize radiation exposure to household contacts consistent with good radiation safety practices.
Bone marrow problems: Treatment with LUTATHERA increases the risk of myelosuppression, a condition in which bone marrow activity is decreased, resulting in drop in blood cell counts. You may experience blood-related side effects such as low red blood cells (anemia), low numbers of cells that are responsible for blood clotting (thrombocytopenia), and low numbers of a type of white blood cells (neutropenia). People with low blood cell counts are at higher risk of developing serious side effects associated with LUTATHERA. Speak with your healthcare provider if you experience any signs or symptoms of infection, fever, chills, dizziness, shortness of breath or increased bleeding or bruising. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust or stop your treatment accordingly.
Secondary bone marrow and blood cancers: Other serious conditions that you may develop as a direct result of treatment with LUTATHERA include blood and bone marrow disorders known as secondary myelodysplastic syndrome and cancer known as acute leukemia. Your healthcare provider will routinely check your blood counts and tell you if they are too low.
Kidney problems: Treatment with LUTATHERA will expose your kidneys to radiation and may impair their ability to work as normal. You may be at an increased risk for lower kidney function after LUTATHERA treatment if you already have kidney impairment before treatment. In some cases, patients have experienced kidney failure after treatment with LUTATHERA. Your healthcare provider will monitor changes and provide you with an amino acid solution before, during, and after LUTATHERA to help protect your kidneys. You should stay well hydrated before, during, and after your treatment. You should urinate frequently during and after administration of LUTATHERA. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function and may withhold, reduce, or stop your LUTATHERA treatment accordingly.
Liver problems: In clinical studies of LUTATHERA, less than 1% of patients were reported to have tumor bleeding (hemorrhage), swelling (edema) or tissue injury (necrosis) to the liver. If you have tumors in your liver, you may be more likely to experience these side-effects. Signs that you may be experiencing liver damage include increases in blood markers called ALT, AST and GGT. Your healthcare provider will monitor your liver using blood tests and may need to withhold, reduce, or stop your LUTATHERA treatment accordingly.
Hormonal gland problems (carcinoid crisis): During your treatment you may experience certain symptoms that are related to hormones released from your cancer. These symptoms may include flushing, diarrhea, difficulty breathing (bronchospasm), and low blood pressure (hypotension), and may occur during or within the 24 hours after your first LUTATHERA treatment. Your healthcare provider will monitor you closely. Speak with your healthcare provider if you experience any of these signs or symptoms.
Pregnancy warning: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or you or your partner plan to become pregnant before taking LUTATHERA. LUTATHERA can harm your unborn baby. Females should use an effective method of birth control during treatment and for 7 months after the final dose of LUTATHERA. Males with female partners should use an effective method of birth control during treatment and for 4 months after the final dose of LUTATHERA.
Breastfeeding warning: You should not breastfeed during treatment with LUTATHERA and for 2.5 months after your final dose of LUTATHERA.
Fertility problems: Treatment with LUTATHERA may cause infertility. This is because radiation absorbed by your testes and ovaries over the treatment period falls in the range of exposure where temporary or permanent infertility may occur.

What other medicines may interact with LUTATHERA?

Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medications, including somatostatin analogs. Somatostatin analogs may affect how your LUTATHERA treatment works. Your healthcare provider may ask you to stop taking your long-acting somatostatin analogs 4 weeks before LUTATHERA treatment. You may continue taking short-acting somatostatin analogs up to 24 hours before your LUTATHERA treatment.

What are the most common side effects of LUTATHERA?

The most common and most serious side effects of LUTATHERA include: vomiting, nausea, decreased blood cell counts, increased liver enzymes, decreased blood potassium levels, and increased glucose in the bloodstream.

Talk to your doctor if you have a side effect that bothers you or does not go away. There are other possible side effects of LUTATHERA. For more information, and to learn more about LUTATHERA, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information for LUTATHERA.

Distributed by: Advanced Accelerator Applications USA, Inc., NJ 07041

Reference: 1. LUTATHERA^® [prescribing information]. Millburn, NJ: Advanced Accelerator Applications USA, Inc.; July 2018.

Answers to your questions about LUTATHERA

LUTATHERA^® (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate)

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