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March 10, 2025
Opportunities to get involved with Canada’s health technology assessment agencies and the reimbursement review process
We are excited to share the following opportunities to get involved with Canada’s health technology assessment agencies and the reimbursement review process. Your voice as a person impacted by myeloma is an invaluable contribution to decisions that impact our community. Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA) is currently seeking knowledgeable and experienced individuals to[…]
Learn moreFebruary 7, 2025
“Long wait for cancer drug approvals causing ‘great anguish’ among patients, doctors”
Potentially life-saving treatments delayed by bureaucracy, doctors say In April 2017, Glenn Hussey went to The Ottawa Hospital for a regular checkup to monitor his smouldering multiple myeloma — a precursor to the rare blood plasmaThe liquid part of the blood in which red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended. cancer multiple myeloma. He’d been going every few months for more than a decade. But this time, he remembers his doctor[…]
Learn moreDecember 19, 2024
Decisions on CARVYKTI expanded indication
Ciltacabtagene autoleucel (CARVYKTI) has received a notice of compliance (NOC) from Health Canada, approving the treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have received 1-3 prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and are refractoryDisease that is unresponsive to standard treatments. to lenalidomide. Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA) conducted a reimbursement review of[…]
Learn moreDecember 10, 2024
Recommendations for the effective use of T-cell–redirecting therapies: a Canadian consensus statement
“Recommendations for the effective use of T-cell–redirecting therapies: a Canadian consensus statement” Authors: Guido Lancman, Kevin Song, Darrell White, Tina Crosbie, Ismail Sharif, Marianne Emond, Muhammad Saleem Raza, Martine Elias, Rayan Kaedbey and Michael P. Chu “Here, we have presented a set of recommendations for optimizing the use of T-cell–redirecting therapy in[…]
Learn moreNovember 22, 2024
Government of Canada establishes a committee of experts to make recommendations on national pharmacare
The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced the establishment of the Committee of Experts which will recommend options on how to operate and finance a national, universal, single-payer pharmacare program in Canada. The Committee will include: Dr. Nav Persaud (Chair); Dr. Stéphane Ahern; Amy Lamb; Dr. Steve Morgan; and, Linda Silas. Over the next year,[…]
Learn moreNovember 21, 2024
Talquetamab not recommended for reimbursement
On October 31st the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review Expert Review Committee (pERC) of Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) decided not to recommend TALVEY (talquetamab) for reimbursement. The pERC’s draft decision states that due to the limited data available for their review and the nature of its side effectsProblems that occur due to drugs used for disease treatment. Common side effects of cancer treatment are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss, and mouth sores., public drug plans should not fund[…]
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