10 new medications are being added to the provincial drug formulary this month to improve treatment and lower the cost of drugs for patients, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
These drugs will benefit more than 200 patients with cancer, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, gastrointestinal infection, cystic fibrosis, vitreomacular adhesion (eye disorder) and those who require smoking cessation therapy.
“For many Islanders, their quality of life is tied to their medications,” he said. “With this $1.4 million investment, we are continuing to create access to new medications and to make them more affordable, so patients can focus on getting well.”
Effective November 23, 2015, the following medications will be added to the provincial formulary:
Cancer: Alimta (Mesothelioma), Alimta (lung cancer), Pomalyst, Revlimid, Vidaza
Cystic Fibrosis: HyperSal 7%
Gastrointestinal infection: Dificid
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: Concerta/Biphentin
Vitreomacular adhesion (eye condition): Jetrea
Smoking cessation therapy: Champix
Recommendations to add drugs to the provincial formulary are made by the Provincial Drug and Therapeutics Committee (PD&T) based on their clinical benefits and impact on Islanders. Recommendations to add cancer drugs are made by an Oncology subcommittee of the PD&T. The subcommittee is comprised of PEI cancer experts who recommend nationally approved cancer drugs, based on the needs of Island cancer patients.
“Our government has been very proactive in adding drugs to the formulary, developing drug cost assistance programs, and expanding access to medications through new drug pricing initiatives,” Minister Currie said. “When we came to government, there were 300 nationally approved drugs not covered on our provincial formulary. Since then we have added more than 250 drugs. It our intent to finally close this gap and achieve regional parity within 24 months.”
Patients must meet clinical criteria and be registered with provincial drug programs to be eligible for drug cost assistance.
This is the second time this year that new drugs have been added to the formulary. In April 2015, government added 18 new medications. A new Generic Drug Program was launched in September to provide coverage for uninsured Islanders under age 65. The Catastrophic Drug Program was introduced in 2013 to provide coverage for Islanders with high medication costs.
Backgrounder: New drugs added, November 2015
Pomalyst is a cancer medication for multiple myeloma. There are three patients on Prince Edward Island who require this drug. Government will pay an average annual cost of $66,909.
Revlimid is a cancer medication for multiple myeloma as maintenance therapy. There are two Island patients who require this drug. Government will pay an average annual cost of $192,343.
Vidaza is a cancer medication to treat myelodysplastic syndrome. It is a hospital only drug. There are four patients on Prince Edward Island who require this drug. Government will pay an average annual cost of $282,500.
Alimta is a cancer medication for mesothelioma. It is a hospital only drug. There are one to two patients requiring this drug on Prince Edward Island. Government will pay an average annual cost of $52,400.
Alimta, a cancer medication for advanced or metastatic non-squamous-non small cell lung cancer, is a hospital only drug. There are 20 patients on Prince Edward Island who require this drug. Government will pay an average annual cost of $749,892.
Champix is a smoking cessation therapy drug. There are approximately 75 patients on Prince Edward Island who require this drug. Government will pay an average annual cost of $5,625.
Concerta/Biphentin is an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder drug. There are 25 patients on Prince Edward Island who require this drug. Government will pay an average annual cost of $12,500.
Dificid is a medication for gastrointestinal infection. There are five patients on Prince Edward Island who require this drug. Government will pay an average annual cost of $8,400.
Hypersal 7%, a cystic fibrosis drug, is covered under the Cystic Fibrosis Drug Program. There are nine patients on Prince Edward Island who require this drug. Government will pay an average annual cost of $7,800.
Jetrea is a medication for the eye condition vitreomacular adhesion. There are 20 patients on Prince Edward Island who require this drug. Government will pay an average annual cost of $43,440.