Recently, Scott Adams, the creator of “Dilbert,” attracted national attention when he sought assistance for cancer treatments crucial to his survival. Adams, 67, disclosed in May that he has advanced prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate and is not responding to conventional therapies.
On Sunday, he reached out to President Trump on X, asking for help in obtaining a newly approved medication named Purvict.
Purvict is a new form of targeted radiation therapy aimed at slowing the progression of advanced prostate cancer. However, there are potential challenges regarding how easily patients can access it, the timing of its administration, and its side effects.
In his post, Adams mentioned that his healthcare provider, Kaiser of Northern California, had approved him to receive Purvict but failed to schedule his infusion. “I’m quickly declining. I plan to ask President Trump if he can intervene with Kaiser to set up an appointment for Monday. That would give me a chance to remain here a bit longer,” he wrote.
In response, President Trump shared a screenshot of Adams’ appeal on Truth Social, expressing support.
Kaiser Permanente later issued a statement, noting that Adams’ oncology team is closely coordinating his treatment plan, which is already in motion. They indicated that more than 150 patients in Northern California have been treated with Lu-177 PSMA since its FDA approval three years ago, showcasing their familiarity with the drug and disease.
What is Purvict?
Purvict, consisting of lutetium Lu 177 bipibotide tetraxetane, is produced by Novartis AG, a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company. According to Novartis, this drug provides targeted ionizing radiation directly to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy cells.
Dr. Alan Bryce, a medical oncologist, explained that this treatment, known as radioligand therapy, involves a radioactive isotope that targets prostate cancer cells. “This approach allows more of the active drug to concentrate at the tumor site, reducing exposure to healthy tissues,” he said.
He added that Purvict is beneficial not just for suppressing cancer growth but also for potentially extending patient lifespan. “Effective cancer control often alleviates symptoms, minimizes pain, and enhances energy levels for patients,” Bryce noted. Given that Purvict is the only radioligand therapy authorized for prostate cancer, it serves as a viable alternative compared to other treatments.
The drug received FDA approval in March 2022 for certain types of metastatic prostate cancer in adult patients already undergoing hormone blockers and taxane-based chemotherapy. Additionally, as of 2025, it has also been approved for use in patients on androgen receptor drugs who can postpone chemotherapy.
Purvict is generally administered as an intravenous infusion, given in up to six doses spaced six weeks apart, depending on the patient’s disease progression and how well they tolerate the treatment.
Challenges in Accessing Purvict
Purvict’s radioactive nature has previously caused supply chain shortages, although the situation has since improved. Bryce mentioned that its handling requires a carefully controlled environment, which may restrict availability to specialized clinics rather than general oncologists’ offices. Initially, manufacturing issues hampered distribution, but that is reportedly no longer a problem.
Each dose must be custom-made for individual patients because the radioactive isotope has a limited shelf life and cannot be stored.
In Adams’ instance, although the drug was approved, the difficulty in scheduling his appointment highlights some shortcomings in healthcare systems and the need for timely care while ensuring patient safety.
Potential Side Effects
Common side effects of Purvict include fatigue, dry mouth, nausea, back pain, joint pain, decreased appetite, and constipation, all of which are typically mild to moderate. Additionally, patients may experience changes in blood test results that require monitoring. In rare cases, severe side effects such as bleeding issues, infections, kidney damage, or blood clots could arise.
This medication, containing small amounts of radioactive material, must be administered with caution to minimize radiation exposure. It is also cautioned against during pregnancy due to potential risks to the fetus.
Interestingly, while chemotherapy has more widespread side effects, Purvict targets only the diseased tissue, which generally makes it easier for patients to tolerate, as per Bryce’s observations.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 men will face a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. It’s estimated that roughly 35,770 men will die from this disease in 2025, making it the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the U.S., following lung cancer.
