February 9, 2023 News by Andrea Lobo, PhD Health Canada clears Phase 1 trial of Lucid-MS in healthy volunteers FSD Pharma will soon launch a first-in-human trial testing Lucid-21-302, known as Lucid-MS ā its novel chemical treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā ā in healthy volunteers. Health Canada has cleared the company to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of the investigational therapy, FSD Pharma announced in a…
April 27, 2022 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Kesimpta Now Reimbursable for Patients in 2 Canadian Provinces Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is now accessible to eligible Canadians with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) through public drug plans in Ontario and Quebec. The treatment has been included as an exceptional medication under both the Ontario Drug Benefit Exceptional Access Program and the RĆ©gie de lāassurance maladie du QuĆ©bec. This…
March 24, 2021 News by Forest Ray PhD Health Canada OKs Self-administered Kesimpta for Adults With Active RRMS Health Canada has approvedĀ Kesimpta (ofatumumab) for the treatment of adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who have active disease, as defined by clinical and imaging features. In contrast with other B-cell-targeting therapies used in MS, patients can self-administer a precise dose of Kesimpta at home using the Sensoready…
October 8, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Health Canada Approves Oral Zeposia for Adults With RRMS Health Canada has approvedĀ Zeposia (ozanimod), an oral daily treatment for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in the country. Approval does not assure that Zeposia will be available to Canadian patients at no or low cost, as publicly funded prescription plans are largely administered by each…
May 11, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD MMJ Can Ship Cannabis Products to US for Clinical Testing, Agencies Say MMJ International HoldingsĀ announced that it has been given clearance to ship its cannabis-based products to the U.S. for use in future clinical trials of potential cannabis-based treatment forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) and Huntingtonās disease. The process was facilitated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement AgencyĀ (DEA), which worked alongside…
March 6, 2020 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Health Canada Approves Mayzent to Treat Active SPMS Health Canada has approved Novartis‘sĀ MayzentĀ (siponimod)Ā for the treatment of adults with activeĀ secondary progressive multiple sclerosisĀ (SPMS) to delay the progression of physical disability. Active disease is determined either by the presence of relapses or magnetic resonance imaging features characteristic of inflammatory activity. Multiple sclerosis (MS)…
December 16, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: US Patent for Remyelination Therapy, Tysabri and Inflammation, Canada Funding Mavenclad MetP Pharma Awarded US Patent for Potential Remyelination Therapy Mention remyelination and the reaction from most of us with multiple sclerosis is probably, “How soon?” This announcement makes me hope that it’s now a little sooner. The process combines testosterone with a compound that changes the activity of something…
March 16, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto Dysport Therapeutic Approved by Health Canada for Lower Limb Spasticity Treatment in Adults AbobotulinumtoxinA, marketed as Dysport TherapeuticĀ by Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Canada, was approved by Health Canada for the treatment of lower limb focal spasticity in adults. Focal spasticity is a medical disorder characterized by an abnormal increase in muscular stiffness in one or more muscles, and usually is the result…
March 14, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD MMJ BioScience Obtains First Canadian License to Produce Medical Cannabis MMJ Bio ScienceĀ has becomeĀ the first company to obtain a Canadian license to produce medical cannabis, with the initial authorization covering products forĀ multiple sclerosisĀ andĀ Huntington’s disease. The Health CanadaĀ license allows the company to extract cannabinoids from plants that it grows to produce therapies that will be tested in U.S.
February 16, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Health Canada Approves Ocrevus to Treat Early Stage PPMS Patients with Active Disease Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) patients in Canada in the earlier stages of this disease can now be treated with Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), followingĀ Health Canada‘s decision to approve its use with restrictions. Roche/Genentechās Ocrevus can be prescribed to adults with early-stage PPMS and characteristic signs of…
August 17, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Ocrevus Approved in Canada to Treat Relapsing-Remitting MS Health Canada has approved Ocrevus for the treatment of adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with active disease, Roche Canada announced. The approval followed the positive results from the Phase 3 OPERA studies, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of Ocrevus in 825 patients with RRMS. The OPERA 1 and OPERA 2 trials showed that Ocrevus significantly reduced disease activity and disability progression of RRMS patients, with annual relapse rates falling by almost half. Moreover, Ocrevus outperformed Rebif, the standard of care in MS, in slowing worsening of disability and significantly reducing lesions seen on MRI scans over a two-year treatment period. "Ocrevus is a major addition to the treatment options available for MS. The RRMS Ocrevus clinical trial data show a significant reduction in relapses and disease progression, as well as a good safety profile," Daniel Selchen, a neurologist and head of the Division of Neurology at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, said in a press release. "For appropriate patients, Ocrevus will be of great value in reducing the burden of MS." The treatment's approval, however, did not extend to ā or mention ā people with primary progressive MS, in contrast to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's action in March, which approved Ocrevus for both MS forms. Health Canada did not give address PPMS in its announcement. Estimates are that 100,000 Canadians are currently living with MS, and most have the relapsing form. A number welcomed Ocrevus' arrival for what it offers in their fight against this disease.
December 13, 2016 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Zinbryta Approved in Canada as Once-Monthly Treatment for Relapsing MS Health CanadaĀ has approved Zinbryta (daclizumab)Ā as aĀ treatment for adults with active relapsing-remittingĀ multiple sclerosis (RRMS), BiogenĀ and AbbVieĀ announced. Zinbryta is a long-acting injection therapy, self-administered monthly, for patients who have had an inadequate response to at least two other MS therapies. “ZINBRYTAā¢ is the first once-monthly, self-administered treatment…