News AUBAGIO Included in Prince Edward Island Pharmacare AUBAGIO Included in Prince Edward Island Pharmacare by Patricia Silva, PhD | May 26, 2015 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Canadian province Prince Edward Island (PEI) has approved the inclusion of Aubagio (teriflunomide) 14 mg in the PEI Pharmacare’s provincial drug formulary. This means that the drug developed and commercialized byĀ Genzyme is now financially supported by the state as aĀ first-line oral tablet to treat patients who suffer fromĀ relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Aubagio, an immunomodulator which has anti-inflammatory properties,Ā was approved by Health Canada in November 2013 as monotherapy toĀ treat patients with RRMS and promote theĀ decrease inĀ clinical exacerbation frequency, as well as delay accretion of physical disability. The therapy influences the amount ofĀ activated lymphocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) and has been examinedĀ in overĀ 5,000 trial participants in 36 different countries, some of whichĀ have been receiving the drug for up to 10 years. “AUBAGIO is proving to be a very simple, safe and effective treatment for MS. I’m glad to see it endorsed by this province’s Prescription Drug Program,” explained in aĀ press releaseĀ the physicianĀ Richard Leckey, from theĀ Queen Elizabeth Hospital inĀ Charlottetown, PEI and Staff Neurologist at the Dalhousie Multiple Sclerosis Research Unit in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Canada has one of the worldās highest rate of MS, and approximatelyĀ 100,000 people suffer from the disease in the country.Ā In addition, three people are newly diagnosed with MS everyĀ day, and it has become theĀ the most common neurological disease affecting young adults in Canada.Ā Most people are diagnosed with relapsing MS in their twenties and thirties and struggle to find more effective ways to manage the disease for which there is currently no cure. Given the burden of the disease worldwide and particularly in Canada, the reactions were immediate, praising the decision. “We’ve all waited patiently for safe and effective oral medications in MS,” saidĀ the director of the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, inĀ Saint John, New Brunswick,Ā Gregg MacLean. “I am pleased that AUBAGIO has gained a listing in Prince Edward Island.” “The MS Society is pleased that PEI has come on board to provide coverage of another treatment option for those living with multiple sclerosis,” also stated the interim president of the MS Society of Canada‘s Atlantic Division,Ā Monica Jordan. “This means Islanders living with MS have greater access and more choice when it comes to treatments that manage the effects of their disease. “For people with MS who are interested in exploring treatment options, we encourage them to consult with their healthcare team to find the course that is most appropriate for them. The MS Society of Canada continues to support and advocate for greater access to therapies that will improve the quality of life for people living with MS,” added Jordan. Genzyme, which is aĀ Sanofi Company, has also demonstrated itsĀ appreciation of the decision, as the general manager of Genzyme Canada, Peter Brenders, said thatĀ “we congratulate the Government of PEI for making AUBAGIO available to patients suffering from RRMS. With its once-a-day oral regimen, this will provide patients an alternative to injectables.” The company is committed to improving the lives of MS patients, not only with Aubagio, but also through its program MS One to One, with comprehensive information services, ongoing education, and drug reimbursement navigation assistance. Last January,Ā Nova ScotiaĀ became the first of Canadaās four Atlantic Provinces to include AubagioĀ 14 mg treatment on its provincial drug formulary as a first-line oral agent for people in the province living with RRMS, followed now by the Prince Edward Island. In the United States,Ā Aubagio was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September, 2012 to treatĀ patients with relapsing forms of MS. Print This Page About the Author Patricia Silva, PhD PatrĆcia holds a PhD in medical microbiology and infectious diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal. Her work in academia was mainly focused on molecular biology and the genetic traits of infectious agents such as viruses and parasites. PatrĆcia earned several travel awards to present her work at international scientific meetings. She is a published author of several peer-reviewed science articles. Tags Aubagio, Canada, Genzyme
April 23, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD AAN 2024: Subcutaneous Ocrevus led to nearly no relapses after year
April 22, 2024 News by Margarida Maia, PhD Viatris launches low-dose Copaxone generic formulation in Canada
April 22, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS AAN 2024: Briumvi found to ease disability in certain MS patients