In this issue
- The latest news on provincial drug formulary listing decisions
- About the medications in this Report Card update and their listing decisions
- News about arthritis medications
JointHealth™ insight Published July 2016
The latest news on provincial drug formulary listing decisions
Important news for people living with inflammatory arthritis in Canada
In this issue of JointHealth™ insight, Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) maps out the latest news for you about provincial drug formulary listing decisions. It contains information about important changes to provincial drug formularies and what it means for Canadians living with inflammatory arthritis. The changes covered in this update affect people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
(Please place your cursor over the map. You will see dots to indicate provinces in which there are provincial drug formulary updates. Place the cursor on each dot to learn more.)
Manitoba
The following medication has been listed for reimbursement on the provincial drug formulary:
The following medications have been listed for reimbursement on the provincial drug formulary:
Nova Scotia
The following medication has been listed for reimbursement on the provincial drug formulary:
Prince Edward Island
The following medications have been listed for reimbursement on the provincial drug formulary:
Ontario
The following medication has been declined for listing in the provincial drug formulary:
About the medications in this Report Card update and their listing decisions:
News about arthritis medications
In April 2016, secukinumab (Cosentyx®) was issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) from Health Canada for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy and for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to previous disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. Secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets IL-17A, a protein central to the development of inflammatory diseases. It is given by an injection under the skin.
The medication is now being considered for reimbursement by provincial drug formularies. In British Columbia, by filling out a questionnaire on a website called Your Voice, you can provide feedback directly to BC PharmaCare or if you wish, to ACE, about secukinumab for the treatment of AS and PsA. You can give input If you are a B.C. resident and have AS or PsA, a caregiver to someone with AS or PsA, or if your group represents people who live with AS or PsA. The submission deadline is midnight on July 21, 2016.
Please note secukinumab has been added to the online version of the JointHealth™ Arthritis Medications Report Card and will be added to the next print version of the JointHealth™ Medications Guide in early 2017.
Listening to you
We hope you find this information of use. Please tell us what you think by writing to us or emailing us at feedback@jointhealth.org. Through your ongoing and active participation, ACE can make its work more relevant to all Canadians living with arthritis.
Update your email or postal address
Please let us know of any changes by contacting ACE at feedback@jointhealth.org. This will ensure that you continue to receive your free email or print copy of JointHealth™ insight.
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE)
Who We Are
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) provides research-based education, advocacy training, advocacy leadership and information to Canadians with arthritis. We help empower people living with all forms of arthritis to take control of their disease and to take action in healthcare and research decision making. ACE activities are guided by its members and led by people with arthritis, leading medical professionals and the ACE Advisory Board. To learn more about ACE, visit: www.jointhealth.org
Acknowledgements
Over the past 12 months, ACE received unrestricted grants-in-aid (financial and in-kind) from: AbbVie Corporation, Amgen Canada, Arthritis Research Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Celgene Inc., Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Hoffman-La Roche Limited, Innovative Medicines Canada, Janssen Inc., Merck Canada Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Pfizer Canada Inc., Sanofi Canada, St. Paul’s Hospital, UCB Canada Inc. and the University of British Columbia. ACE also receives unsolicited donations from its community members (people with arthritis) across Canada.
ACE’s information, programs and services and opinions are free from influence from individuals or organizations providing ACE unrestricted grant funding.
Disclaimer
The material contained on this website is provided for general information only. This website should not be relied on to suggest a course of treatment for a particular individual or as a substitute for consultation with qualified health professionals who are familiar with your individual medical needs. Should you have any healthcare related questions, you should contact your physician. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this or any website.
This site may provide links to other Internet sites only for the convenience of World Wide Web users. ACE is not responsible for the availability or content of these external sites, nor does ACE endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other Internet sites.
Although the information presented on this website is believed to be accurate at the time it is posted, this website could include inaccuracies, typographical errors or out-of-date information. This website may be changed at any time without prior notice.
The latest news on provincial drug formulary listing decisions
Important news for people living with inflammatory arthritis in Canada
In this issue of JointHealth™ insight, Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) maps out the latest news for you about provincial drug formulary listing decisions. It contains information about important changes to provincial drug formularies and what it means for Canadians living with inflammatory arthritis. The changes covered in this update affect people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
(Please place your cursor over the map. You will see dots to indicate provinces in which there are provincial drug formulary updates. Place the cursor on each dot to learn more.)
Manitoba
The following medication has been listed for reimbursement on the provincial drug formulary:
- Tofacitinib citrate (Xeljanz®) for the treatment of RA
The following medications have been listed for reimbursement on the provincial drug formulary:
- Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) for the treatment of RA, AS and PsA
- Infliximab (Infectra®) for the treatment of RA, AS and PsA
- A listing criteria change has occurred for infliximab (Remicade®) for the treatment of RA, AS and PsA
Nova Scotia
The following medication has been listed for reimbursement on the provincial drug formulary:
- Infliximab (Infectra®) for the treatment of RA and AS
- A listing criteria change has occurred for infliximab (Remicade®) for the treatment of RA and AS.
- The listing criteria for rheumatoid arthritis has been updated for all medications listed in the Report Card.
- The listing criteria for adalimumab (Humira®) for juvenile idiopathic arthritis has been expanded to include polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Prince Edward Island
The following medications have been listed for reimbursement on the provincial drug formulary:
- Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) for the treatment of AS and PsA
- Infliximab (Infectra®) for the treatment of RA, AS and PsA
- A listing criteria change has occurred for infliximab (Remicade®) for the treatment of RA, AS and PsA.
- The listing criteria for rheumatoid arthritis has been updated for all medications listed in the JointHealth™ Arthritis Medications Report Card.
Ontario
The following medication has been declined for listing in the provincial drug formulary:
- Apremilast (Otezla®) for the treatment of PsA
About the medications in this Report Card update and their listing decisions:
- Adalimumab (Humira®) is used to treat children with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). The medication is taken via subcutaneous injection and is administered every other week. The recommended dose depends on the height and weight of the child.
- Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) is a medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It is an anti-TNF medication taken by subcutaneous injection every two weeks (200mg/mL pre-filled syringe).
- Infliximab (Inflectra®) is a subsequent entry biologic to the originator biologic infliximab (Remicade®). It is the first subsequent entry biologic monoclonal antibody therapy approved by Health Canada for the treatment of patients with RA, AS, PsA and plaque psoriasis and is administered intravenously. An Inflectra® Patient Assistance Program is available through the manufacturer by calling 1-844-466-6627.
- Tofacitinib citrate (Xeljanz®) is an oral targeted small molecule medicine (TSMM) that was issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) for the treatment of RA from Health Canada on April 17, 2014. Tofacitinib, in combination with methotrexate (MTX), is indicated for reducing the signs and symptoms of RA, in adult patients with moderately to severely active RA who have had an inadequate response to MTX. In cases of intolerance to MTX, physicians may consider the use of tofacitinib as monotherapy.
News about arthritis medications
In April 2016, secukinumab (Cosentyx®) was issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) from Health Canada for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy and for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to previous disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. Secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets IL-17A, a protein central to the development of inflammatory diseases. It is given by an injection under the skin.
The medication is now being considered for reimbursement by provincial drug formularies. In British Columbia, by filling out a questionnaire on a website called Your Voice, you can provide feedback directly to BC PharmaCare or if you wish, to ACE, about secukinumab for the treatment of AS and PsA. You can give input If you are a B.C. resident and have AS or PsA, a caregiver to someone with AS or PsA, or if your group represents people who live with AS or PsA. The submission deadline is midnight on July 21, 2016.
Please note secukinumab has been added to the online version of the JointHealth™ Arthritis Medications Report Card and will be added to the next print version of the JointHealth™ Medications Guide in early 2017.
Listening to you
We hope you find this information of use. Please tell us what you think by writing to us or emailing us at feedback@jointhealth.org. Through your ongoing and active participation, ACE can make its work more relevant to all Canadians living with arthritis.
Update your email or postal address
Please let us know of any changes by contacting ACE at feedback@jointhealth.org. This will ensure that you continue to receive your free email or print copy of JointHealth™ insight.
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE)
Who We Are
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) provides research-based education, advocacy training, advocacy leadership and information to Canadians with arthritis. We help empower people living with all forms of arthritis to take control of their disease and to take action in healthcare and research decision making. ACE activities are guided by its members and led by people with arthritis, leading medical professionals and the ACE Advisory Board. To learn more about ACE, visit: www.jointhealth.org
Acknowledgements
Over the past 12 months, ACE received unrestricted grants-in-aid (financial and in-kind) from: AbbVie Corporation, Amgen Canada, Arthritis Research Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Celgene Inc., Eli Lilly Canada Inc., Hoffman-La Roche Limited, Innovative Medicines Canada, Janssen Inc., Merck Canada Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Pfizer Canada Inc., Sanofi Canada, St. Paul’s Hospital, UCB Canada Inc. and the University of British Columbia. ACE also receives unsolicited donations from its community members (people with arthritis) across Canada.
ACE’s information, programs and services and opinions are free from influence from individuals or organizations providing ACE unrestricted grant funding.
Disclaimer
The material contained on this website is provided for general information only. This website should not be relied on to suggest a course of treatment for a particular individual or as a substitute for consultation with qualified health professionals who are familiar with your individual medical needs. Should you have any healthcare related questions, you should contact your physician. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this or any website.
This site may provide links to other Internet sites only for the convenience of World Wide Web users. ACE is not responsible for the availability or content of these external sites, nor does ACE endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other Internet sites.
Although the information presented on this website is believed to be accurate at the time it is posted, this website could include inaccuracies, typographical errors or out-of-date information. This website may be changed at any time without prior notice.
Arthritis Consumer Experts
ACE thanks Arthritis Research Canada (ARC) for its scientific review of ACE and JointHealth™ information and education programs.