JointHealth™ express May 9, 2016
(Please place your cursor over the map. You will see dots to indicate provinces in which there are provincial drug formulary updates. Place the cursor on each dot to learn more.)
The lastest provincial listings, at your fingertips
Good news for people living with autoimmune arthritis in Canada!
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) maps out the latest news for you: Read about the important changes to provincial drug formularies and what it means for Canadians living with autoimmune arthritis. The changes covered in this update affect people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Alberta
The following medications have been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
Saskatchewan
The following medications have been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
The following medications have been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
The following medication has been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
The following medication has been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
The following medications have been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
About the listed medications
Adalimumab (Humira®) is used to treat children with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). The medication is taken via subcutaneous injection and is administered every other week. The recommended dose depends on the height and weight of the child.
Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) is a medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It is an anti-TNF medication taken by subcutaneous injection every two weeks (200mg/mL pre-filled syringe).
Infliximab (Inflectra®) is a biosimilar to the reference product infliximab (Remicade®). It is the first subsequent entry biologic monoclonal antibody therapy approved by Health Canada for the treatment of patients with RA, AS, PsA and plaque psoriasis and is administered intravenously.
Tofacitinib citrate (Xeljanz®) is an oral targeted small molecule medicine (TSMM) that was issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) from Health Canada on April 17, 2014. Tofacitinib, in combination with methotrexate (MTX), is indicated for reducing the signs and symptoms of RA, in adult patients with moderately to severely active RA who have had an inadequate response to MTX. In cases of intolerance to MTX, physicians may consider the use of tofacitinib as monotherapy.
Click here to view the detailed listing criteria of each medication on the JointHealth™ Arthritis Medications Report Card.
(Please place your cursor over the map. You will see dots to indicate provinces in which there are provincial drug formulary updates. Place the cursor on each dot to learn more.)
The lastest provincial listings, at your fingertips
Good news for people living with autoimmune arthritis in Canada!
Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) maps out the latest news for you: Read about the important changes to provincial drug formularies and what it means for Canadians living with autoimmune arthritis. The changes covered in this update affect people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Alberta
The following medications have been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
- Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) for the treatment of RA, AS and PsA
- Infliximab (Infectra®) for the treatment of RA, AS and PsA
Saskatchewan
The following medications have been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
- Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) for the treatment of AS and PsA
- Infliximab (Infectra®) for the treatment of RA, AS, and PsA
- Tofacitinib citrate (Xeljanz®) for the treatment of RA
- Subcutaneous tocilizumab (Actemra®) for the treatment of RA
The following medications have been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
- Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) for the treatment of AS and PsA
- Infliximab (Infectra®) for the treatment of RA, AS and PsA. Inflectra will be the preferred infliximab option for all infliximab-naive patients prescribed an infliximab product for RA, AS, and PsA. Preferred means the first infliximab product to be considered for reimbursement for infliximab-naive patients. Patients will not be permitted to switch from Inflectra to another infliximab product or vice versa, if previously trialed and deemed unresponsive to therapy.
The following medication has been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
- Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) for the treatment of RA, AS and PsA
The following medication has been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
- Adalimumab (Humira®) for the treatment of JIA
The following medications have been listed for coverage in the provincial drug formulary:
- Infliximab (Infectra®) for the treatment of RA, AS and PsA
- Tofacitinib citrate (Xeljanz®) for the treatment of RA
About the listed medications
Adalimumab (Humira®) is used to treat children with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). The medication is taken via subcutaneous injection and is administered every other week. The recommended dose depends on the height and weight of the child.
Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia®) is a medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It is an anti-TNF medication taken by subcutaneous injection every two weeks (200mg/mL pre-filled syringe).
Infliximab (Inflectra®) is a biosimilar to the reference product infliximab (Remicade®). It is the first subsequent entry biologic monoclonal antibody therapy approved by Health Canada for the treatment of patients with RA, AS, PsA and plaque psoriasis and is administered intravenously.
Tofacitinib citrate (Xeljanz®) is an oral targeted small molecule medicine (TSMM) that was issued a Notice of Compliance (NOC) from Health Canada on April 17, 2014. Tofacitinib, in combination with methotrexate (MTX), is indicated for reducing the signs and symptoms of RA, in adult patients with moderately to severely active RA who have had an inadequate response to MTX. In cases of intolerance to MTX, physicians may consider the use of tofacitinib as monotherapy.
Click here to view the detailed listing criteria of each medication on the JointHealth™ Arthritis Medications Report Card.
Arthritis Consumer Experts
ACE thanks Arthritis Research Canada (ARC) for its scientific review of ACE and JointHealth™ information and education programs.