JointHealth™ express September 8, 2010
Golimumab (Simponi®) now covered on five provincial government drug formularies
More than a year ago, Health Canada approved the use of golimumab (Simponi®) for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. As of August 2010, it is now covered on five provincial formularies in Canada.
This is great news for Canadians living with these forms of inflammatory arthritis; it means there are more treatment options available, which is important because every patient responds differently to disease suppressing or modifying medications.
Golimumab is a biologic response modifier that targets the TNF-alpha molecule (also referred to as a TNF-blocker). Golimumab, given by injection every 4 weeks, is used to treat people with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis who have had no response or an inadequate response to traditional therapies, such as Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs, like methotrexate alone or in combination with other DMARDs).
The Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) will reimburse the cost of golimumab for all three inflammatory diseases listed above, while Quebec covers only psoriatic arthritis. Please see the easy reference chart below:
Unfortunately, two other recently Health Canada approved medications for rheumatoid arthritis are still are not reimbursed on any provincial or federal drug formulary. They are:
Golimumab (Simponi®) now covered on five provincial government drug formularies
More than a year ago, Health Canada approved the use of golimumab (Simponi®) for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. As of August 2010, it is now covered on five provincial formularies in Canada.
This is great news for Canadians living with these forms of inflammatory arthritis; it means there are more treatment options available, which is important because every patient responds differently to disease suppressing or modifying medications.
Golimumab is a biologic response modifier that targets the TNF-alpha molecule (also referred to as a TNF-blocker). Golimumab, given by injection every 4 weeks, is used to treat people with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis who have had no response or an inadequate response to traditional therapies, such as Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs, like methotrexate alone or in combination with other DMARDs).
The Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) will reimburse the cost of golimumab for all three inflammatory diseases listed above, while Quebec covers only psoriatic arthritis. Please see the easy reference chart below:
| Province | Rheumatoid Arthritis | Ankylosing Spondylitis | Psoriatic Arthritis |
| Alberta |  |
|
|
| New Brunswick |
|
|
|
| Nova Scotia |
|
|
|
| NIHB | |
|
|
| Quebec | |
Unfortunately, two other recently Health Canada approved medications for rheumatoid arthritis are still are not reimbursed on any provincial or federal drug formulary. They are:
- tocilizumab (Actemra®), used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and administered by intravenous infusion once a month, received approval in April of this year; and
- certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®), used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and administered by injection once every 2 weeks, received its approval in August of 2009.
Arthritis Consumer Experts
ACE thanks Arthritis Research Canada (ARC) for its scientific review of ACE and JointHealth™ information and education programs.