FAQ

• What is RLT-Connect?

   A collaborative platform implemented by the Oncidium foundation to enable radioligand therapies (RLT) for cancer patients who cannot afford it in countries that already have the infrastructure to deliver such therapies. 

  The RLT-Connect platform connects healthcare practitioners and radioisotope companies, that donate radioisotope doses to be able to provide radioligand therapy for those who cannot otherwise afford it. 

• What is the Oncidium foundation’s role in this project?

  The RLT-Connect platform is an Oncidium foundation initiative. Oncidium is acting as a facilitator to connect and establish an effective and operational ecosystem between healthcare practitioners (HCPs), radioisotope companies and local radiopharmacies to provide donated doses for cancer patients that cannot afford the treatment cost. Oncidium’s role is limited to: 

  • Facilitating the connections between HCPs and radioisotope suppliers; 
  • Evaluating the clinical sites requests according to pre-defined eligibility criteria and the Ethical Charter; 
  • Setting up and hosting the online RLT-Connect platform. 
• What are the roles of the other stakeholders (clinical sites, radioisotope suppliers, local radiopharmacies?

   Clinical Sites 

  • Selection of patients and creation of paperwork for treatment access: early access, compassionate use, expanded access, etc. 
  • Submission of cases on online platform 
  • Contact with local radiopharmacy for the logistics, labeling and QC. 
  • Feedback on treatment outcomes 

  Local Radiopharmacies 

  • Importation process, customs clearance, inland transportation. 
  • Labeling and QC 
  • Delivery at clinical site 

  Isotope suppliers 

  • Dose donations 
  • Definition of number of doses to be donated each year 
• Who can register on the platform?
  • Healthcare professionals working in hospitals that already use 177Lu and that have experience in treating cancer patients with 177Lu radiopharmaceuticals. Patients cannot register themselves to search fora dose. 
  • Radioisotopes suppliers that wish to donate radioisotopes (including shipment and importation taxes). 
• What is being donated?

  The RLT-Connect is currently donating doses of 177LuCl (lutetium-177 (177Lu) chloride) for cancer treatment. 

• Who can benefit from the treatment/doses donation? 

  Cancer patients who cannot afford the therapy, mainly from low- and medium-income countries, where there is no reimbursement. Dose distribution is limited for each country and will be allocated evenly across the world. 

• Who can request a treatment/dose? 

  Healthcare professionals, in countries where the necessary infrastructure is already implemented to deliver the doses to the patients. Moreover, patients cannot register themselves to search for a dose, the request should come from the hospital that can deliver the treatment. 

  What’s more, once the donation is approved, doses are donated by the radioisotopes companies directly to the hospitals and will not transit through the Oncidium foundation. 

• How many doses can a cancer patient expect to receive within the donation program?

  Once a case is accepted and validated for donation, the foundation commits to providing the necessary doses, including a full treatment cycle personalized to the patient’s needs. Additionally, patients who have already received doses and require additional ones may also benefit from the donation in case they meet the program’s eligibility criteria. On the other hand, if a patient does not respond to the treatment or needs fewer doses than the requested amount, the excess doses will be redirected to another patient in need, ensuring efficient use of resources 

• Who is validating the requests for treatment/dose donation? 

  An Ad Hoc committee composed of field specialists and set up by the Oncidium foundation is analyzing each request and validating them based on the program’s eligibility criteria and the Ethical Charter. 

• Who is responsible for the doses labelling? 

  The doses labelling is carried out by the radiopharmacy center that already works with the hospitals. It must be indicated in the registration form. 

• Who is responsible for the importation and logistics process? 

  The importation and logistics of the 177LuCl doses will follow the same process as already done by your hospital for commercial doses. The Oncidium foundation does not intermediate this process. 

• How can I request a treatments/doses donation? 
  1. Register your hospital here: https://rlt-connect.oncidiumfoundation.org/registration/clinical/ 
  2. Receive the confirmation of your registration by e-mail; 
  3. If your registration is approved, you will receive the contract and the RLT-Connect Ethical Charter to be signed by the physician and the hospital director; 
  4. An additional document will also be attached, to be signed by the local radiopharmacy your hospital is working with; 
  5. Once the contracts are signed, you will be able to request a dose; 
  6. To request a dose, log into the platform: https://rlt-connect.oncidiumfoundation.org/; 
  7. Click on “Create a request”; 
  8. Answer the qualifying criteria form and submit it; 
  9. After careful consideration of the request, you will receive a response within 15 working days, indicating either a positive or negative return.