RADIATION SAFETY GUIDELINES
IMPORTANT RADIATION SAFETY GUIDANCE FOR YOUR PATIENTS
After receiving BEXLUTRY, the radiopharmaceutical will be retained in the body for a period of time. Encourage patients to follow the safety precautions as best they can, based on what's practical for their situation, to help limit radiation exposure to others.
For at least 3 DAYS after the infusion
HYDRATION
- Drink plenty of liquids and urinate often to remove BEXLUTRY from the body1,2
BATHROOM USE
- Sit down when using the toilet to avoid splashing2,3
- Flush 2 times with lid closed after each use1,2
- Clean any spills right away2
- Wash hands well with soap and water1,2
- For Caregivers: Wear disposable gloves when helping with bathroom needs or handling bodily fluids and dispose of in a separate bag1,2
CLOSE CONTACT
WITH OTHERS
- Stay at least 3 feet away from other people and pets2
- Do not use public transportation2
- Wait 3 days before returning to work in person2
For at least 7 DAYS after the infusion
PERSONAL HYGIENE
- Take a shower every day to help remove radioactive skin contamination1,4
- Wash clothing, towels, and bedding separately from other household members5
SLEEPING AND
PERSONAL SPACE
- Sleep alone to limit radiation exposure to others, including children and pets1,2
- Avoid sexual activity1
- Limit close physical contact6
CLOSE CONTACT WITH OTHERS
- In general, maintain 3-foot distance from children and pregnant people2
- Avoid close contact in crowded public places6
Additional safety measures around pregnancy
- Do not share a bed with a pregnant person for up to 15 days after your infusions1,2
Safety for people of reproductive potential
- Use effective birth control during treatment and for 7 months after the final dose7
- Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 2.5 months after the final infusion7
- During this time, continue expressing breast milk to maintain lactation; milk should be discarded or stored until safe for use per your doctor's or care team's direction8
Supporting patients beyond administration
Radiation safety is just one part of patient care. Explore services that provide practical, financial, and educational support for patients throughout treatment.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
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Risk From Radiation Exposure: Bexlutry contributes to a patient’s overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure. Long-term cumulative radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk for cancer. These risks of radiation associated with the use of Bexlutry are greater in pediatric patients than in adults.
Radiation can be detected in the urine for up to 30 days following Bexlutry administration. Minimize radiation exposure to patients, medical personnel, and household contacts during and after treatment with Bexlutry consistent with institutional good radiation safety practices, patient management procedures, Nuclear Regulatory Commission patient-release guidance, and instructions to the patient for follow-up radiation protection at home.
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Myelosuppression: In NETTER-1, myelosuppression occurred more frequently in patients receiving lutetium Lu 177 dotatate injection with long-acting octreotide compared to patients receiving high-dose long-acting octreotide (all Grades/Grade 3 or 4): anemia (81%/0) versus (54%/1%); thrombocytopenia (53%/1%) versus (17%/0); and neutropenia (26%/3%) versus (11%/0). In NETTER-1, platelet nadir occurred at a median of 5.1 months following the first dose. Of the 59 patients who developed thrombocytopenia, 68% had platelet recovery to baseline or normal levels. The median time to platelet recovery was 2 months. Fifteen of the nineteen patients in whom platelet recovery was not documented had post-nadir platelet counts. Among these 15 patients, 5 improved to Grade 1, 9 to Grade 2, and 1 to Grade 3. Monitor blood cell counts. Withhold dose, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue Bexlutry based on the severity of myelosuppression.
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Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) and Leukemia: In NETTER-1, with a median follow-up time of 76 months in the main study, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) was reported in 2.3% of patients receiving lutetium Lu 177 dotatate injection with long-acting octreotide compared to no patients receiving high-dose long-acting octreotide.
In ERASMUS, 16 patients (2.0%) developed MDS and 4 (0.5%) developed acute leukemia. The median time to onset was 29 months (9 to 45 months) for MDS and 55 months (32 to 125 months) for acute leukemia.
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Renal Toxicity: In ERASMUS, 8 patients (< 1%) developed renal failure 3 to 36 months following lutetium Lu 177 dotatate injection. Two of these patients had underlying renal impairment or risk factors for renal failure (e.g., diabetes or hypertension) and required dialysis.
Administer the recommended amino acid solution before, during and after Bexlutry to decrease the reabsorption of lutetium Lu 177 dotatate through the proximal tubules and decrease the radiation dose to the kidneys. Advise patients to hydrate and to urinate frequently before, on the day of, and the day after administration of Bexlutry.
Monitor serum creatinine and calculated creatinine clearance. Withhold dose, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue Bexlutry based on the severity of renal toxicity.
Patients with baseline renal impairment may be at increased risk of toxicity due to increased radiation exposure.
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Hepatotoxicity: In ERASMUS, 2 patients (< 1%) were reported to have hepatic tumor hemorrhage, edema, or necrosis, with one patient experiencing intrahepatic congestion and cholestasis. Patients with hepatic metastasis may be at increased risk of hepatotoxicity due to radiation exposure.
Monitor transaminases, bilirubin, serum albumin, and international normalized ratio (INR) during treatment. Withhold dose, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue Bexlutry based on the severity of hepatotoxicity.
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Hypersensitivity Reactions: Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema, occurred in patients treated with lutetium Lu 177 dotatate injection. Monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, during and following Bexlutry administration for a minimum of 2 hours in a setting where cardiopulmonary resuscitation medication and equipment are available. Discontinue the infusion upon the first observation of any signs or symptoms consistent with a severe hypersensitivity reaction and initiate appropriate therapy.
Premedicate patients with a history of Grade 1 or 2 hypersensitivity reactions to Bexlutry before subsequent doses. Permanently discontinue Bexlutry in patients who experience Grade 3 or 4 hypersensitivity reactions.
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Neuroendocrine Hormonal Crisis: Neuroendocrine hormonal crises, manifesting with flushing, diarrhea, bronchospasm and hypotension, occurred in < 1% of patients in ERASMUS and typically occurred during or within 24 hours following the initial lutetium Lu 177 dotatate injection dose. Two (< 1%) patients were reported to have hypercalcemia. Monitor patients for flushing, diarrhea, hypotension, bronchoconstriction or other signs and symptoms of tumor-related hormonal release. Administer intravenous somatostatin analogs, fluids, corticosteroids, and electrolytes as indicated.
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Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action, Bexlutry can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Verify pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential prior to initiating Bexlutry. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Bexlutry and for 7 months after the last dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Bexlutry and for 4 months after the last dose.
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Risk of Infertility: Bexlutry may cause infertility in males and females. The recommended cumulative dose of 29.6 GBq of Bexlutry results in a radiation absorbed dose to the testes and ovaries within the range where temporary or permanent infertility can be expected following external beam radiotherapy.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common Grade 3-4 adverse reactions (≥ 4% with a higher incidence in lutetium Lu 177 dotatate injection arm) reported in NETTER-1 were lymphopenia, increased GGT, vomiting, nausea, increased AST, increased ALT, hyperglycemia and hypokalemia.
With a median follow-up time of more than 4 years, the following rates of serious adverse reactions were reported in ERASMUS: myelodysplastic syndrome (2%), acute leukemia (1%), renal failure (2%), hypotension (1%), cardiac failure (2%), myocardial infarction (1%), and neuroendocrine hormonal crisis (1%).
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Somatostatin Analogs: Somatostatin and its analogs competitively bind to somatostatin receptors and may interfere with the efficacy of Bexlutry. Discontinue long-acting somatostatin analogs at least 4 weeks and short-acting octreotide at least 24 hours prior to each Bexlutry dose. Administer short- and long-acting octreotide during Bexlutry treatment as recommended.
Glucocorticoids: Glucocorticoids can induce down-regulation of subtype 2 somatostatin receptors (SSTR2). Avoid repeated administration of high doses of glucocorticoids during treatment with Bexlutry.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Lactation
Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with Bexlutry and for 2.5 months after the last dose.
Pediatric Use
Somatostatin Receptor-Positive Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: The risks of radiation exposure associated with Bexlutry are greater in pediatric patients than in adult patients due to longer life expectancy. The safety and effectiveness of Bexlutry have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 12 years old with somatostatin receptor-positive GEP-NETs.
Pediatric use information is approved for Advanced Accelerator Applications USA INC’s LUTATHERA (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) injection for intravenous use. However, due to Advanced Accelerator Applications USA Inc.’s marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that pediatric information.
LUTATHERA® is a registered trademark of Advanced Accelerator Applications International SA.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Bexlutry™ (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate injection) is indicated for the treatment of adults with somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), including foregut, midgut, and hindgut neuroendocrine tumors.
References
- Ladrière T, Faudemer J, Levigoureux E, Peyronnet D, Desmonts C, Vigne J. Safety and therapeutic optimization of Lutetium-177 based radiopharmaceuticals. Pharmaceutics. 2023;15(4):1240. doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics15041240
- Radiation safety patient instructions: LUTATHERA (Lu-177 dotatate). Dartmouth Health. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/radiology/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2024/09/LUTATHERA-radiation-safety.pdf
- Levart D, Kalogianni E, Corcoran B, Mulholland N, Vivian G. Radiation precautions for inpatient and outpatient 177Lu-DOTATATE peptide receptor radionuclide therapy of neuroendocrine tumours. EJNMMI Phys. 2019;6(1):7. doi:10.1186/s40658-019-0243-1
- Hendifar AE, Mehr SH, McHaffie DR. Best practices for the coordinated care of patients with neuroendocrine tumors undergoing peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. Pancreas. 2022;51(3):213-218. doi:10.1097/MPA.0000000000002002
- Radioligand therapy. International Neuroendocrine Cancer Alliance. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://incalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/What-is-RadioLigandTherapy_EN.pdf
- Hosono M, Ikebuchi H, Nakamura Y, et al. Manual on the proper use of lutetium-177-labeled somatostatin analogue (Lu-177-DOTA-TATE) injectable in radionuclide therapy (2nd ed.). Ann Nucl Med. 2018;32(3):217-235. doi:10.1007/s12149-018-1230-7
- BEXLUTRY. Prescribing information. Curium US LLC; 2026.
- Dilsizian V, Metter D, Palestro C. Advisory Committee on Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI) Sub-Committee on Nursing Mother Guidelines for the Medical Administration of Radioactive Materials. Draft report submitted August 18, 2017. Accessed June 9, 2026. https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1728/ML17281A005.pdf
