Work

Clinical Pharmacy in Radiopharmacy: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Practices Within the HUGOPharm Network

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Radiopharmacy is a specialized area of hospital pharmacy dedicated to the preparation and appropriate use of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic imaging and targeted therapies. While clinical pharmacy activities are well established in many hospital settings, their integration into radiopharmacy remains poorly documented and lacks standardization, particularly in the context of the rapid development of theranostic applications. This descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to assess current clinical pharmacy practices in radiopharmacy across the HUGOPharm network. Between July and September 2025, an anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to radiopharmacy teams, collecting information on prescription analysis, biological monitoring, interdisciplinary collaboration, and other clinical pharmacy activities. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze responses. All participating centers reported verifying patient identity and key prescription parameters; however, substantial variability in practices was observed. Pharmacotherapeutic analysis was more frequently performed for therapeutic procedures (71%) than for diagnostic procedures (57%). Pre-procedure biological testing was common in therapeutic contexts (86%) but infrequent for diagnostic applications (29%). No center reported conducting structured medication reviews or pharmaceutical consultations. The implementation of radioligand therapies, such as [177Lu]-PSMA, was associated with enhanced safety checks and increased interdisciplinary collaboration. Overall, clinical pharmacy in radiopharmacy is developing but remains inconsistently implemented. Structured clinical pharmacy activities appear particularly relevant for theranostic procedures and may represent priorities for future practice development to support patient safety and integrated care.

Source: Pharmacy

DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy14020056