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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[…]
Learn moreMyeloma Canada updates
February 26, 2025
Making myeloma matter in the 2025 Ontario election
As part of our ongoing commitment to advocating for Canadians impacted by multiple myeloma, Myeloma Canada and members of the Ontario Advocacy Committee took swift action during Ontario’s election period to ensure myeloma patients’ needs were heard. We sent letters to each major party leader, Premier Doug Ford (Progressive Conservative),[…]
Learn moreFebruary 20, 2025
Myeloma Canada at FISQ 2024 to discuss the modernization of evaluation processes
On December 4 and 5, 2024, Jessy Ranger, Myeloma Canada’s Director of Patient Programs, Health Policy & Advocacy, attended the Forum de l’industrie de la santé de Québec (FISQ) as a participant and panelist. Jessy drew attention to the barriers patients face when trying to access medical treatments — whether these[…]
Learn moreJanuary 16, 2025
Myeloma Canada joins forces with Service Info-cancer to enhance the support offered by its new MC Assistance program
Myeloma Canada and the Fondation québécoise du cancerA term for diseases in which malignant cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. join forces to facilitate access to support for French-speaking people affected by cancer. Every day, 11 Canadians are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, the second most common form of blood cancer. This partnership is designed to ensure that even more people affected by[…]
Learn moreDecember 19, 2024
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 a Canadian context. This set of recommendations, which is expected to[…]
Learn moreDecember 19, 2024
Outcomes of young myeloma patients treated with modern therapies
We’re happy to share the recently published study, “Disease Characteristics and Outcomes of 493 Young Myeloma Patients Treated With Modern Therapies: A Canadian Myeloma Research Group Database Study”. This important Canadian database study examines patients aged 50 and under, an age group that represents only 10% of myeloma cases and[…]
Learn moreSeptember 24, 2024
Multiple myeloma: research update
Myeloma Canada, along with thousands from the global hematology community, had the privilege of following the American Society of ClinicalInvolving direct observation of a patient. Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting (May 30 – June 3) and the European Hematology Association (EHA) Hybrid Congress (June 13-16) to hear from leading myeloma experts about the latest progress in[…]
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