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
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.