MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Therapies with radioligands represent a new chapter in the fight against cancer, through the pioneering approach of therapy, in which diagnosis and therapy are integrated; radioligands are able to vehicular radiation directly to cells that express the specific target, with targeted action and represent an area of research in evolution in the treatment of advanced tumors; parallel there emerges the need for new organized models. “The therapy with radioligands is a significant innovation, because it allows to selectively affect the disease based on the biological characteristics of the tumor – explains Fabio Calabrò, Director UOC Medical Oncology 1, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Regina Elena” in Rome -. It is an approach that integrates diagnosis and treatment and allows to treat patients who can really benefit from it, opening new opportunities in personalized medicine.” Novartis is among the pioneering companies in the development of therapies with radioligands, today considered among the most advanced platforms of precision medicine in oncology. In this context, Italy is a strategic node for the global production of radioligands, thanks to the presence of highly specialized sites, such as Ivrea and Saluggia, able to guarantee the availability of these therapies for patients internationally. In addition to therapeutic innovation, a decisive challenge emerges today: the ability of the system to translate innovation into real access. The growing demand, combined with a still uneven distribution of infrastructure, is likely to generate inequalities among patients. Without a system fully ready to accept this innovation, even the most advanced advances risk not to be translated into concrete and fair benefits for all. The diffusion of the RLT requires an evolution of organizational models: more integration between oncology and nuclear medicine, more efficient processes and, above all, an increase in the operational capacity of the centers to ensure a timely grip and a continuity of assistance. The monitoring of the centres shows a progressive strengthening of the system’s capacity to welcome innovation in the national territory, with a total of 47 active centres distributed in 18 Italian regions, but at the same time shows an uneven distribution, with a greater concentration in the regions of the North and Center. In particular, Lombardy is confirmed as one of the areas with greater density of centers, followed by Lazio, Campania and Emilia-Romagna, while some regions of the South and the Islands, such as Calabria and Sardinia, are represented by a more limited number of structures. This trend reflects an evolving system in its organizational and welfare capacity, but still characterized by territorial differences. Overall, the data shows a dual trend: on the one hand, the consolidation of the national network and the expansion of the offer, on the other, the need to continue in the strengthening of organizational models and regional networks to ensure increasingly fair and homogeneous access to care throughout the territory. “The spread of radioligand therapy poses significant organizational challenges, both in terms of the ability of centers and access for patients – says Claudio Rossetti, Director S.C. Nuclear Medicine Niguarda Hospital and Coordinator of the International Department of Nuclear Medicine of Lombardy -. The collaboration between centers is a key factor: shared models allow to manage in a coordinated way the different phases of the treatment, improving the accessibility and quality of the grip”. In this direction there are concrete experiences such as the RE-MODEL project, developed by Novartis in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano, which demonstratesano how it is possible to rethink the organization of care paths to optimize flows, increase the capacity of centers and make innovation really accessible throughout the territory. The project, realized with the involvement of more than 20 centres of Nuclear Medicine at the national level, has evidenced how evolved organizational models, which enable patient day management, can lead to an increase in operational capacity up to 80%, allowing to treat up to 15% more patients through more efficient use of available resources and a remodelling of the use of spaces and staff producing an increase of more than 40% of the bed rotation index. “Today the value of innovation is also measured in the ability of the system to make it concretely accessible. This is why the capacity of the healthcare system becomes central to accept and integrate this innovation: in addition to the availability of the therapeutic platform, they serve organization, multidisciplinary integration and adequate operational capacity of the centers. The challenge today is not only to innovate, but to make innovation really available for everyone”, concludes Marco Amorese, Head of Innovation, Business Excellence & Execution and Mature Brands, Novartis.
– Novartis press office photos –
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