RLT Connect. Changing lives, one patient at a time
The RLT-Connect platform is an online platform designed to facilitate collaboration between healthcare professionals seeking radioligand therapy for their patients who cannot afford it, and Radioisotope suppliers willing to donate doses to make this life-savings treatment accessible to those in need.
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Changing lives, one patient at a time
Access to radioligand therapies is deeply unequal around the world:
- Technology only available to a small number of cancer patients
- Access is dependent on where the patient lives
- In most low- and middle-income new radiopharmaceuticals are paid out of pocket
Connections are low and sometimes nonexistent.
It’s all about connections.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A collaborative platform implemented by the Oncidium foundation to enable radioligand therapy treatments for 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.
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 HCPs, Radioisotope companies and local radiopharmacies to provide donated doses for 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 for centers and the Ethics charter;
• Setting up and hosting the online RLT-Connect platform
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
• Healthcare professionals working in centers that already use 177Lu and that have experience in treating patients with 177Lu radiopharmaceuticals. Thus, patients cannot register themselves to seek a dose.
• Radioisotopes suppliers that wish to donate radioisotopes (including dose donation, shipment, importation taxes).
The RLT-Connect is currently donating 177LuCl (lutetium-177 (177Lu) chloride).
Currently, RLT-Connect is only mediating about donated doses for treatment, not Imaging or diagnostic tests.
The objective of the program is to create a connection between the parties, and everyone involved is donating something. The supplier donates the doses, the Radiopharmacy usually covers the costs of logistics/import and labelling, and the hospital covers the costs of Imaging and hospitalization.
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.
Yes, it is possible, where cross-border healthcare is allowed. Anyway, the receiving hospital needs to be registered on the RLT-Connect platform. Also, it is the treating hospital who needs to make the request. Oncidium may finance the travel of patience who are in financial need.
Healthcare professionals, in countries where the necessary infrastructure is already implemented to deliver the doses to the patients. Moreover, patients cannot register themselves to seek 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 and directly to the centers and will not transit through the Oncidium foundation.
The Hospital that is requesting the dose. The order of donated dose by the Radiopharmacy, follows the same process as commercial ones.
Once the donation is approved, doses are donated by the radioisotopes companies directly to the hospitals and will not transit through the Oncidium foundation.
Once a case is accepted and validated for donation to a patient, 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 eligibility criteria established for the program. On the other hand, if a patient does not respond to the treatment, the doses will be reallocated to another patient in need, ensuring efficient use of resources.
The physician responsible for the request, will change the request on the platform to the actual need. The excess doses will be redirected to another patient in need, ensuring efficient use of resources.
An Ad Hoc committee set up by the Oncidium foundation composed of field specialist.
Usually, we must ask the suppliers at least 20 days in advance. Nevertheless, suppliers may have different requirements.
The labelling will be carried out by the Radiopharmacy center that already works with the hospitals. It must be indicated in the registration form.
The importation and logistics of the 177LuCl dose will follow the same process as already done by your center for commercial doses. The Oncidium foundation does not intermediate these processes.
1- Register your center here https://rlt-connect.oncidiumfoundation.org/registration/clinical/;
2- Receive the confirmation of the registration request by e-mail;
3- If your center registration is approved, you will receive by e-mail a 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 the local Radiopharmacy your hospital is working with for signature;
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.
Yes. All centers who are actively treating patients with radiopharmaceuticals 177Lu, 131I (or other radioisotopes under request) can sign the agreement
The agreement with Oncidium includes the non-exclusivity article. Hence, both Oncidium and the hospital are free to establish agreement offering related services to other healthcare professionals and institutions.
Local radiopharmacies are indicated at the moment of the registration by the healthcare professional that signs up on the platform. They can be internal radiopharmacies to the hospital or collaborating external structures.
The Radiopharmacy will be requested to sign an RLT-Connect agreement specific for radiopharmacies.