New multiple myeloma therapies approved by Health Canada, but not being funded

Although the Canadian regulatory agency has approved the use of three important new drugs for the treatment of multiple myeloma since the start of 2016, none of them is being funded by the government, bemoans the charity Myeloma Canada.

Every day, seven Canadians are diagnosed with this increasingly prevalent but relatively unknown disease. Although there is no cure, myeloma is treatable and with a number of innovative therapies that have become available in recent years, patients are living longer and more productive lives. However, myeloma is characterized by cycles of disease control and relapse. In most cases, treatment will eventually lose its effect. Therefore, access to new treatments is vital for patients with limited options. Thousands of Canadians depend on it, the charity stresses.

Health Canada approved three new drugs for the treatment of myeloma: carfilzomib (Kyprolis, from Amgen [Nasdaq: AMGN]) on January 15, 2016; daratumumab (Darzalex, from Johnson & Johnson [NYSE: JNJ]) on June 19, 2016 and ixazomib (Ninlaro, from Takeda [TYO: 4502]) on August 8, 2016. Although Health Canada approval is a necessary first step in accessing new treatment options, it is the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) that recommends whether a new drug should be funded by public drug plans.