Is Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) FDA approved?

Yes. The [FDA approved](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/novel-drug-approvals-fda/novel-drug-approvals-2023) Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) in May 2023.

Is Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) chemotherapy?

No, Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) isn’t chemotherapy. [Chemotherapy](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/cancer/understanding-chemotherapy) works by killing all fast-growing cells, including tumor cells. Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) doesn’t directly damage cancer cells. Instead, it lights up areas with prostate cancer so that your provider can see where the cancer is located. With that information, your provider can come up with a better treatment plan for you.

Does Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) detect all prostate cancer?

Not necessarily. With any test, there’s always a risk of detecting cancer when there isn’t any, or not detecting any cancer when there actually is cancer present. It’s likely that your treatment team will use the information from your scan together with blood tests and [tissue samples](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/prostate-cancer/prepare-for-a-prostate-biopsy) to confirm your diagnosis and determine your treatment plan. If you are worried about a scan using the medication, discuss your concerns with your provider.

How should I prepare for a PET scan with Posluma (flotufolastat F 18)?

It’s a good idea to stay well-hydrated and urinate right before your [PET scan](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/prostate-cancer/what-is-a-pet-scan) with Posluma (flotufolastat F 18). After your scan, continue to stay hydrated and urinate frequently to reduce radiation exposure.

Posluma

flotufolastat F 18

Used for Diagnosis

Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) is an radiopharmaceutical imaging agent that helps providers see areas of prostate cancer on a specific test known as a prostate-specific membrane antigen – positron emission tomography (PSMA-PET) scan. It’s for people with prostate cancer that might have come back after initial treatment (recurrent) or spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. It’s given as an infusion through the vein before the PET scan. Side effects include diarrhea, injection site pain, and a rise in blood pressure.

Reviewed by:

Julia Lee, PharmD, BCOP

Daisy Chau, PharmD

Last reviewed on December 17, 2023

What is Posluma (flotufolastat F 18)?

What is Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) used for?

Diagnose suspected advanced prostate cancer, during a PSMA-PET scan

How Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) works

Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) is a radiopharmaceutical. It attaches to a particular protein found on the surface of certain cancer cells called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). Once attached, the radioactive portion of Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) lights up the areas with prostate cancer on a certain type of scan called a PSMA PET scan.

Drug facts

Common Brands	Posluma
Drug Class	Radiopharmaceutical
Controlled Substance Classification	Not a controlled medication
Generic Status	No lower-cost generic available
Availability	Prescription only

Common Brands

Posluma

Drug Class

Radiopharmaceutical

Controlled Substance Classification

Not a controlled medication

Generic Status

No lower-cost generic available

Availability

Prescription only

Common questions about Posluma

Yes. The FDA approved Posluma in May 2023.

No, Posluma isn’t chemotherapy. Chemotherapy works by killing all fast-growing cells, including tumor cells. Posluma doesn’t directly damage cancer cells. Instead, it lights up areas with prostate cancer so that your provider can see where the cancer is located. With that information, your provider can come up with a better treatment plan for you.

In studies, Posluma didn’t have many side effects. In rare situations, some people reported diarrhea, a rise in blood pressure, and pain at the injection site. Talk with your provider if you’re concerned about side effects with this medication.

Not necessarily. With any test, there’s always a risk of detecting cancer when there isn’t any, or not detecting any cancer when there actually is cancer present. It’s likely that your treatment team will use the information from your scan together with blood tests and tissue samples to confirm your diagnosis and determine your treatment plan. If you are worried about a scan using the medication, discuss your concerns with your provider.

It’s a good idea to stay well-hydrated and urinate right before your PET scan with Posluma. After your scan, continue to stay hydrated and urinate frequently to reduce radiation exposure.

Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) dosage

Typical dosage for Posluma (flotufolastat F 18)

What are alternatives to Posluma (flotufolastat F 18)?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Posluma (flotufolastat F 18). Compare a few possible alternatives below.

Posluma (flotufolastat F 18)

Used for:

Diagnose suspected advanced prostate cancer, during a PSMA-PET scan

View prices

Locametz (gallium Ga 68 gozetotide)

Used for:

PET scans to find cancer cells in:

Men with treatable prostate cancer that might have spread to other organs
Men with a history of prostate cancer that has come back based on high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
Men with prostate cancer that might have spread to other organs that is treatable by Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) - Locametz only

View prices

Pylarify (piflufolastat F 18)

Used for:

PET scans to find cancer cells in:

Men with treatable prostate cancer that might have spread to other organs
Men with a history of prostate cancer that has come back based on high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

View prices

References

Blue Earth Diagnostics. (2023). Posluma- flotufolastat f-18 injection [package insert]. DailyMed.

Chang, S. S. (2004). Overview of prostate-specific membrane antigen. Reviews in Urology.

Munjal, A., et al. (2023). Radiopharmaceuticals. StatPearls.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

What is Posluma (flotufolastat F 18)?

What is Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) used for?

How Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) works

Drug facts

Common questions about Posluma

Is Posluma FDA approved?

Is Posluma chemotherapy?

What side effects can I expect with Posluma?

Does Posluma detect all prostate cancer?

How should I prepare for a PET scan with Posluma?

Posluma (flotufolastat F 18) dosage

Typical dosage for Posluma (flotufolastat F 18)

What are alternatives to Posluma (flotufolastat F 18)?

References

View All References (1)

Common questions about Posluma

Is Posluma FDA approved?

Is Posluma chemotherapy?

What side effects can I expect with Posluma?

Does Posluma detect all prostate cancer?

How should I prepare for a PET scan with Posluma?