Breaking News – Drug Access:
Following Pricing Negotiations for Daratumumab, Two Provinces Have Already Listed the Drug – in Record Time
Myeloma Canada is pleased to announce on December 11, it was officially published that pricing negotiations between the provincial governments under the pan Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) and the drug manufacturer (Janssen) for Darzalex (daratumumab) have concluded with a positive decision as stated on the pCPA website.

The website shows a list of negotiated drugs as of November 30, 2018, including Darzalex.
Background:

In June 2016, Darzalex (daratumumab) was the first monoclonal antibody (aka immunotherapy) to be approved by Health Canada for sale in Canada. In March 2017, Health Canada approved the indication for Darzalex (daratumumab) in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone or in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in myeloma patients after one or more relapse.

However, before it could be listed on formularies to be publicly covered by provinces, the drug needed to go through a series of agencies that evaluate pharmacoeconomic value and pricing. The last step in the process was the pricing negotiations between the provincial governments under pCPA and the drug manufacturer (Janssen) for Darzalex (daratumumab), which concluded on December 11, 2018.

That means that it is now up to individual provinces and cancer agencies to implement the agreement, that is, to cover the cost of the treatment for patients who need it.
Two Provinces Cover Darzalex in Record Time!
We have even more reasons to celebrate as both Alberta and Quebec have already listed Darzalex on their provincial formularies, which as far as we know, was done in record time for an oncology drug.

Quebec:
As of December 13, Darzalex (daratumumab) is covered in Quebec in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone or in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone for myeloma patients after one or more relapse.

For more information on the Quebec listing, visit the RAMQ website (only available in French - see page 49 for details).


Alberta:
In Alberta, Darzalex (daratumumab) in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone or Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone is covered under a "Short Term Director's Privilege" which is a form that permits the use of the drug while the official listing is being finalized. The official listing on the Alberta Health Services Cancer Control Drug Benefit List should be coming soon however, the time frame when it will be officially listed is unknown.
Myeloma Canada would like to thank everyone in the Canadian myeloma community who participated in the various advocacy tactics, such as Awareness Days at provincial legislatures and on Parliament Hill, the Myeloma Advocacy Program (MAP), and the various patient and caregiver submissions to the Health Technology Assessment agencies such as pCODR. 

We celebrate the fact that Canadians now have access to this important new drug (first in its class) that has proven to be substantially beneficial for patients living with myeloma. We hope other provinces will quickly follow suit as Myeloma Canada and the community continue to put pressure on provinces.