Press Release body:
TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2016
/CNW/ - Health Canada recently conditionally approved an advanced new
treatment option for Canadians battling metastatic melanoma. The
treatment consists of a combination of two immuno-oncology agents:
Opdivo + Yervoy, the first combination in the immunotherapy space. While
many applauded the approval, numerous patients and doctors are holding
their breath to see what provincial recommendations will come if
approved for reimbursement by the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review
(pCODR). Across Canada,
cancer patients are being restricted to access to innovative new
treatments due to funding recommendations made by health technology
assessment agencies and provinces. Over the past year, patient access to
some cancer treatments approved by Health Canada have been seriously
limited as the result of these recommendations.
In June 2016
the first PD-1 immuno-oncology treatment for melanoma, Keytruda, was
listed to the provincial formulary with a recommendation to fund either
Keytruda or Yervoy, but not both – so that anyone having received either
of these treatments through standard treatment or in a clinical trial
as of June 2, 2016 would not have access
to any other immuno-oncology treatment, regardless of having two
distinct mechanisms of action. Meaning any patient who does not respond
to one immunotherapy has no opportunity to access a second line therapy
option (in the BRAF wildtype population).
Many
more immuno-oncology drugs are currently in review, including a number
aimed at treating non small cell lung cancer, the number one cause of
cancer related deaths in Canadians and women.
The Save Your Skin
Foundation, along with other patient advocacy groups, are exceedingly
concerned about what recommendations these approvals will come with and
how they will affect access to important, potentially lifesaving
therapies.
Kathy Barnard,
Founder of the Save Your Skin Foundation, owes her survival of
metastatic melanoma to Yervoy, which she received in a clinical trial,
after failing on all previous treatments. "Finally, after 30 years, we
are seeing innovative treatments that are helping patients live longer,
but when provinces make funding recommendations that limit treatment
options for patients, we are no further advanced than we were 30 years
ago when no treatment options existed at all," says Barnard. "We're
hearing from patients all over the country who are not getting the drugs
they need and they don't know why."
It is not known yet what the funding recommendations on this new combination drug will be, however, currently in Canada,
Yervoy, a CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitor, as a single agent treatment, has
now been restricted across all provinces - the only country in the
world where this is the situation.
"With this, we find Canada
one step forward and two steps back, leaving some patients without
access to the treatment they need. There is a clear lack of transparency
as well as a lack of innovation in the approval process that is in
stark contrast with the ever-evolving developments we are seeing in the
treatment of cancer," expressed Barnard.
Barnard
goes on to state that health technology assessment (HTA) agencies,
governments and manufacturers must work together with oncologists to
find strategies that translate to the best course of treatment for
patients. "We need to work together to find innovative solutions that
ensure breakthrough treatments are available to all patients, while also
reducing time delays, in order to keep our health care system
sustainable," said Barnard. "Cancer patients need to have access to
cancer drug options, and access needs to be available from within the
communities where they live."
About the Save Your Skin Foundation
The
Save Your Skin Foundation is a Canadian registered not-for-profit that
supports those touched by skin cancer by helping patients to navigate
their journey through informed, compassionate care and personalized
support to those touched by melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
Through programs and outreach, we support education and ongoing
awareness about skin cancer, from prevention to survivorship. The
Foundation also acts as a conduit for health care professionals and
patients in the Canadian health technology assessment and reimbursement
landscape. Please visit www.saveyourskin.ca for more information.
SOURCE Save Your Skin Foundation
For further information: Save Your Skin Foundation Media Relations: Karran Finlay, 1.778.988.8194, karran@saveyourskin.ca, saveyourskin.ca
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