Decision by majority of provincial governments
to publicly list the drug ensures improved treatment access for
nearly 800,000 Canadians currently living with plaque
psoriasis1,2
LAVAL, QC, Oct. 28, 2019 /CNW/ - In advance of World
Psoriasis Day on October 29, 2019,
Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE: BHC) (TSX: BHC) ("Bausch
Health" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that
SILIQ® (brodalumab)3 is now listed on the
majority of provincial drug benefit formularies in Canada, ensuring improved treatment access for
the nearly 800,000 Canadians currently living with plaque
psoriasis.1,2
"We are pleased that the majority of provincial governments to
date have made the decision to support adults living with plaque
psoriasis through the reimbursement of SILIQ®," said
Richard Lajoie, President and
General Manager of Bausch Health, Canada Inc. "The negative impact
of this condition on people's lives can be immense. With
SILIQ® now covered under most public drug plans,
patients and health care professionals will have access to a new
option for achieving goals related to the treatment of this complex
and chronic disease. We are thrilled to be able to share such
positive news ahead of World Psoriasis Day, a day dedicated to
generating awareness and support for people living with this
condition."
Although many anti-psoriatic therapies have been shown to
improve the condition, few can be used to achieve complete or
nearly complete clearance of symptoms.4
"SILIQ® is the only biologic in which the clinical
trials had a primary endpoint of complete skin clearance, as
indicated by a Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score of 100,"
said Dr. David N. Adam, MD FRCPC,
President, Dermatology Association of Toronto, Active Staff, St. Michael's Hospital.
"SILIQ® is the first and only IL-17 receptor A
blocker. It neutralizes the activity of the family of IL-17
pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to an efficient and rapid
normalization of cutaneous inflammation associated with psoriasis.
Having this therapeutic agent with a novel mode of action is a
major advance in the management of psoriasis," noted Dr. Adam.
Because equitable access to SILIQ® for patients
across Canada is a high priority,
Bausch Health is actively working to ensure that patients from all
corners of Canada have coverage
for SILIQ®.
"The addition of SILIQ® to these provincial drug
benefit formularies means that the majority of the more than
200,000 Canadians that are estimated to have a moderate or severe
form of this disease will have better access to important treatment
options,"1,2 says Rachael
Manion, Executive Director, Canadian Association of
Psoriasis Patients (CAPP).
SILIQ® received its Notice of Compliance (NOC) from
Health Canada on March 6, 2018. The treatment is available for
reimbursement on public listings in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edward Island, and
Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Non-Insured Health
Benefits (NIHB) Program for patients living
with plaque psoriasis who meet specific criteria (see backgrounder
for listing criteria). It is also available through the
majority of private insurance plans.
About Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic
non-communicable inflammatory skin disorder that causes areas of
thickened, inflamed, red skin, often covered with silvery scales.
Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis, imposing a
burden of disease that extends far beyond the physical
dermatological symptoms. Its impact on physical and mental function
is similar to that of cancer, arthritis, hypertension, heart
disease, and diabetes.4,6 Effective treatment improves
both physical and mental function in psoriasis.5
About SILIQ® (brodalumab)
SILIQ®
(brodalumab) reduces the inflammation and other symptoms of
psoriasis. SILIQ® is a novel human monoclonal
antibody that selectively binds to the interleukin-17 (IL-17)
receptor A and inhibits inflammatory signaling by preventing the
binding of several types of IL-17 cytokines to the receptor. By
blocking IL-17 cytokines from activating the receptor,
SILIQ® prevents the body from receiving signals that may
lead to inflammation. SILIQ® has a warning and
precaution for Suicidal Ideation and Behavior. A causal
association between SILIQ® treatment and risk of
Suicidal Ideation and Behaviour (SIB) has not been established.
SILIQ® was approved with a comprehensive Patient Support
Program that supports patients and healthcare professionals with
the prescribing, administration, delivering and monitoring of
patients who receive SILIQ® treatment. SILIQ®
is contraindicated in patients with Crohn's disease. The most
common adverse reactions were headache, arthralgia, fatigue,
oropharyngeal pain, and diarrhea. Suicidal ideation and behaviour
have been reported. Serious infections have occurred; therefore,
caution should be exercised when considering the use of
SILIQ® in patients with a chronic infection or a history
of recurrent infection. Patients should be evaluated for
tuberculosis infection prior to initiating treatment. Bausch Health
has exclusively licensed the rights to SILIQ®
in Canada from AstraZeneca.
About Bausch Health Companies Inc.
Bausch Health
Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is
to improve people's lives with our health care products. We
develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical
device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic
areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are
delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company
dedicated to advancing global health.
In Canada, the company's prescription product portfolio is
focused on eye health, dermatology and cardio-metabolic conditions.
More information can be found at the Company's website at
https://www.bauschhealth.ca.
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References:
- Statistics Canada. Table
17-10-0009-01. Population estimates, quarterly [Accessed on
October 7, 2019]
- Gregory V, Luciani L, Barbeau M and Petrella RJ.
Characteristics of chronic plaque psoriasis in Canada: A retrospective database study. Poster
presented at ISPOR 19th Annual International Meeting - Palais des
Congrès de Montréal, 2014.
- SILIQ (brodalumab) Product Monograph. Bausch Health, Canada
Inc. June 7, 2019.
https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00051682.PDF
- Canadian Psoriasis Guidelines Committee. Canadian Guidelines
for the Management of Plaque Psoriasis, June
2009.
https://dermatology.ca/dermatologists/guidelines/psoriasis/
- Strober B, Papp KA, Lebwohl M, et al., Clinical meaningfulness
of complete skin clearance in psoriasis. J Am Acaed Dermatol
2016; 75(1):77-82
- World Health Organization. (2016). Global report on
psoriasis. World Health Organization.
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/204417
SOURCE Bausch Health