SMA drug Zolgensma finally makes Alberta's Rare Diseases Drug Coverage Program
Coverage for Zolgensma, a gene therapy used to treat spinal muscular atrophy, is now permanently available in Alberta.
The therapy was added to the province's Rare Diseases Drug Coverage Program after the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) reached a long-term pricing agreement with manufacturer Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. in October.
Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping said in a statement the government was "extremely pleased" at the development and Alberta's new ability to offer the treatment on a more secure basis.
The province had been providing access to the drug on its own pending a national drug review, approval and the price negotiations with Novartis.
Zolgensma, a one-time treatment with a price tag of $2.91 million, is administered by intravenous infusion to replace a missing or faulty gene that results in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The rare disorder can cause a loss of muscle function and is seen in about one in 10,000 Canadian babies each year, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
Zolgensma is supposed to stop the disease's progression and restore protein production of the missing or defective SMN1 gene. It must be administered when a patient is a toddler.
Several Alberta families led the push to have it approved and covered in Alberta and Canada.
Spinraza, a spinal injection given three times a year that can be used as a treatment for SMA, is also covered under the Alberta Drug Benefit List.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.