Sanofi slams Canadian decision on Dupixent

Sanofi Genzyme says that it is disappointed with the recent recommendation by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) to not reimburse Dupixent (dupilumab), one of the most important recent pharmacological innovations for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD).

The recommendation disregards patient input and ignores the product's clinical value and the potential improvement to patient and caregiver quality-of-life or QoL, says Sanofi Genzyme, the biotech subsidiary of French pharma major Sanofi (Euronext: SAN), which acquired rights to the biologic from its US developer Regeneron (Nasdaq: REGN).

The CADTH recommendation, made public on July 9, after consultation with the agency's Canadian Drug Expert Committee or CDEC, could have a highly detrimental effect on access to this medication for patients with moderate-to-severe AD. CADTH recommendations have an influence on reimbursement decisions by jurisdictional public drug plans, potentially leading to the therapy being rejected for public reimbursement. This would limit access to therapy for patients dependent on public drug plans, and would restrict physicians from prescribing the most appropriate treatment option.