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Canada: Hepatitis C treatments skyrocket after pill-based drugs covered by B.C. plan

Hepatitis C Blog Posted on July 31, 2015 by Alan FranciscusDecember 13, 2015

About 1,400 British Columbians have been treated for hepatitis C in the first four months since new anti-viral medications were covered by the province’s public drug plan — far above predictions.

The Ministry of Health expected 1,500 patients in the first full year for the pill-based medication.
Dr. Mel Krajden, medical head of hepatitis at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, says the numbers reflect pent-up demand from patients seeking the latest treatments.

“A lot of people who are infected follow the literature on these drugs and they were waiting for the newer ones. It’s a whole group of people who realized these medications are more effective, better tolerated with fewer side effects and work over a shorter period of time,” Krajden said at a World Hepatitis Day event Tuesday in Vancouver.

– See more at: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Hepatitis+treatments+skyrocket+after+pill+based+drugs+covered+plan/11249876/story.html#sthash.MT3sDoLJ.dpuf

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Tagged access to treatment, BC, Pharmacare

Canada: Hepatitis C treatments skyrocket after pill-based drugs covered by B.C. plan

Hepatitis C Blog Posted on July 31, 2015 by Alan FranciscusDecember 1, 2015

About
1,400 British Columbians have been treated for hepatitis C in the first
four months since new anti-viral medications were covered by the
province’s public drug plan — far above predictions.

The Ministry of Health expected 1,500 patients in the first full year for the pill-based medication.
Dr.
Mel Krajden, medical head of hepatitis at the B.C. Centre for Disease
Control, says the numbers reflect pent-up demand from patients seeking
the latest treatments.

“A lot of people who are infected follow
the literature on these drugs and they were waiting for the newer ones.
It’s a whole group of people who realized these medications are more
effective, better tolerated with fewer side effects and work over a
shorter period of time,” Krajden said at a World Hepatitis Day event
Tuesday in Vancouver.

– See more at: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Hepatitis+treatments+skyrocket+after+pill+based+drugs+covered+plan/11249876/story.html#sthash.MT3sDoLJ.dpuf

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Tagged access to treatment, BC, Pharmacare

Canada: Williams Lake gets Hepatitis C clinic

Hepatitis C Blog Posted on April 24, 2015 by Alan FranciscusDecember 13, 2015
Waiting times for people in the Cariboo seeking treatment to cure Hepatitis C will be shorter now that a new clinic has opened in Williams Lake.

Every month Dr. Alexandra King and clinical research nurse Shawn Sharma will run the clinic for a few days out of the Atwood Clinic in co-operation with local family doctor Jolien Steyl, who already runs an HIV-Aids clinic.

“As a family doctor it’s been a nightmare getting patients treated,” Steyl said. “They either have to travel really far or they don’t get started on treatment because the waiting lists are long.”

King and Sharma work at the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre (VIDC) where King  is an internal medicine specialist.

Read more…

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Tagged BC, Canada, new clinic, Williams Lake

Canada: Williams Lake gets Hepatitis C clinic

Hepatitis C Blog Posted on April 24, 2015 by Alan FranciscusDecember 1, 2015
Waiting times for people in the Cariboo seeking treatment to cure
Hepatitis C will be shorter now that a new clinic has opened in Williams
Lake.

Every month Dr. Alexandra King and clinical research nurse Shawn
Sharma will run the clinic for a few days out of the Atwood Clinic in
co-operation with local family doctor Jolien Steyl, who already runs an
HIV-Aids clinic.

“As a family doctor it’s been a nightmare getting patients treated,”
Steyl said. “They either have to travel really far or they don’t get
started on treatment because the waiting lists are long.”

King and Sharma work at the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre (VIDC) where King  is an internal medicine specialist.

Read more…

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Tagged BC, Canada, new clinic, Williams Lake

Canada: Multiple Provinces Align to Provide Public Funding for Harvoni™, the First Single Tablet Regimen for the Treatment of Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Hepatitis C Blog Posted on March 24, 2015 by Alan FranciscusDecember 13, 2015

— Reimbursement of Harvoni Within Five Months of Health Canada Notice of Compliance Brings Patients Earlier Opportunity for a Cure —

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Mar 24, 2015 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. (Gilead Canada) today announced that multiple provinces will provide public access to Harvoni™ (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir), the first once-daily, single tablet regimen for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection in adults. In Canada, it is estimated that more than 250,000 Canadians are living with chronic HCV infection, with thousands of new cases diagnosed each year.1 Genotype 1 infection represents an estimated 65 per cent of patient cases.2

Public reimbursement comes after a positive recommendation from the Common Drug Review, and as a result of a productive collaboration between Gilead Canada and the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) to ensure participating provinces are able to provide timely access to patients in need of curative treatment. This review, co-led by the BC Ministry of Health and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, resulted in an agreement with member provinces to fund the innovative therapy for patients.

“We have been waiting for an innovative therapy like Harvoni since interferon was first used to treat the disease,” said Dr. Alnoor Ramji, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology and Hepatology), University of British Columbia. “This is a transformative, interferon-free therapy, with a combination of high cure rates, good tolerability and simplicity of treatment. Harvoni provides patients with the confidence to commit to therapy and a very high probability to achieve a cure.”

Current treatments include interferon and ribavirin that often exclude patients from treatment or lead to early discontinuation of treatment due to associated side effects. Harvoni represents a significant advance in the treatment of genotype 1 HCV infection, the most prevalent genotype in Canada. Harvoni is the only once-daily, single tablet regimen that offers cure rates between 94 and 99 per cent, eliminates the need for interferon and ribavirin, and shortens the duration of treatment to as little as eight weeks for many patients. Eight weeks of treatment with Harvoni can be considered for treatment-naïve patients without cirrhosis who have baseline HCV viral load below 6 million IU/mL. Recently, the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver updated the Canadian consensus guidelines on the management of hepatitis C and recommended Harvoni as first-line therapy for all genotype 1 patients.

“Today’s announcement recognizes the significant health-system and societal benefits associated with curing this disease and preventing its complications,” said Dr. Paul Marotta, Associate Professor, University of Western Ontario and with London Health Sciences Centre. “Access to Harvoni will help us confront this serious public health issue and start formulating longer-term solutions that may prove relevant to the hepatitis C disease elimination efforts across Canada.”

In a recent article, “Burden of disease and cost of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Canada,” (Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology), leading Canadian hepatitis C specialists highlighted an expected 205 per cent increase in cases of liver cancer, a 160 per cent increase in liver-related deaths, and a 60 per cent increase in total healthcare costs over the next 20 years.2 Recently, the article was recognized with a scientific award for its groundbreaking research in Canada.
In addition to Harvoni, Gilead Canada’s Sovaldi® (sofosbuvir) has also been listed for public reimbursement for chronic HCV genotypes 1, 2 and 3 infection in multiple provinces.

“We live in an era of rapid evolution in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection, and Gilead Canada is pleased that our collaboration with the pCPA has allowed multiple provinces to recognize the clinical value of Harvoni as a simple, well tolerated and curative therapy for patients living with genotype 1 HCV,” said Edward Gudaitis, General Manager, Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. “Gilead Canada will continue to work closely with all provinces and territories to bring this cost-effective, once-daily treatment to patients across Canada.”

Read complete press release here

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Tagged BC, Canada, Harvoni access, Ontario, Pharmacare coverage, provincial pharmacare

Canada: Multiple Provinces Align to Provide Public Funding for Harvoni™, the First Single Tablet Regimen for the Treatment of Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Hepatitis C Blog Posted on March 24, 2015 by Alan FranciscusDecember 1, 2015

— Reimbursement of Harvoni Within Five Months of
Health Canada Notice of Compliance Brings Patients Earlier Opportunity
for a Cure —

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Mar 24, 2015 (BUSINESS WIRE) —
Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. (Gilead Canada) today announced that
multiple provinces will provide public access to Harvoni™
(ledipasvir/sofosbuvir), the first once-daily, single tablet regimen for
the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection in
adults. In Canada, it is estimated that more than 250,000 Canadians are
living with chronic HCV infection, with thousands of new cases diagnosed
each year.1 Genotype 1 infection represents an estimated 65
per cent of patient cases.2

Public reimbursement comes after a positive recommendation from the
Common Drug Review, and as a result of a productive collaboration
between Gilead Canada and the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance
(pCPA) to ensure participating provinces are able to provide timely
access to patients in need of curative treatment. This review, co-led by
the BC Ministry of Health and the Ontario Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care, resulted in an agreement with member provinces to fund
the innovative therapy for patients.

“We have been waiting for an innovative therapy like Harvoni since
interferon was first used to treat the disease,” said Dr. Alnoor Ramji,
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology and
Hepatology), University of British Columbia. “This is a transformative,
interferon-free therapy, with a combination of high cure rates, good
tolerability and simplicity of treatment. Harvoni provides patients with
the confidence to commit to therapy and a very high probability to
achieve a cure.”

Current treatments include interferon and ribavirin that often exclude
patients from treatment or lead to early discontinuation of treatment
due to associated side effects. Harvoni represents a significant advance
in the treatment of genotype 1 HCV infection, the most prevalent
genotype in Canada. Harvoni is the only once-daily, single tablet
regimen that offers cure rates between 94 and 99 per cent, eliminates
the need for interferon and ribavirin, and shortens the duration of
treatment to as little as eight weeks for many patients. Eight weeks of
treatment with Harvoni can be considered for treatment-naïve patients
without cirrhosis who have baseline HCV viral load below 6 million
IU/mL. Recently, the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver
updated the Canadian consensus guidelines on the management of hepatitis
C and recommended Harvoni as first-line therapy for all genotype 1
patients.

“Today’s announcement recognizes the significant health-system and
societal benefits associated with curing this disease and preventing its
complications,” said Dr. Paul Marotta, Associate Professor, University
of Western Ontario and with London Health Sciences Centre. “Access to
Harvoni will help us confront this serious public health issue and start
formulating longer-term solutions that may prove relevant to the
hepatitis C disease elimination efforts across Canada.”

In a recent article, “Burden of disease and cost of chronic hepatitis
C virus infection in Canada,” (Canadian Journal of
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
), leading Canadian hepatitis C
specialists highlighted an expected 205 per cent increase in cases of
liver cancer, a 160 per cent increase in liver-related deaths, and a 60
per cent increase in total healthcare costs over the next 20 years.2
Recently, the article was recognized with a scientific award for its
groundbreaking research in Canada.

In addition to Harvoni, Gilead Canada’s Sovaldi® (sofosbuvir)
has also been listed for public reimbursement for chronic HCV genotypes
1, 2 and 3 infection in multiple provinces.

“We live in an era of rapid evolution in the treatment of chronic
hepatitis C infection, and Gilead Canada is pleased that our
collaboration with the pCPA has allowed multiple provinces to recognize
the clinical value of Harvoni as a simple, well tolerated and curative
therapy for patients living with genotype 1 HCV,” said Edward Gudaitis,
General Manager, Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. “Gilead Canada will
continue to work closely with all provinces and territories to bring
this cost-effective, once-daily treatment to patients across Canada.”

Read complete press release here

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Tagged BC, Canada, Harvoni access, Ontario, Pharmacare coverage, provincial pharmacare

Canada: B.C. medical researchers offer treatment by prevention for hepatitis C

Hepatitis C Blog Posted on January 2, 2015 by Alan FranciscusDecember 1, 2015
Innovation: While
stressing there is still work to be done when it comes to fighting
HIV/AIDS – other provinces have not seen the same progress as B.C., and
rates remain high in some First Nations communities – Dr. Montaner said
one area he is watching is treatment of hepatitis C.
“I
think one of the most exciting developments that is happening is the
emergence of new treatment – highly effective, very simple, extremely
well tolerated, but unfortunately very expensive – for hepatitis C.” –
Julio Montaner, director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
Mel
Krajden, medical head of hepatitis – clinical prevention services at
the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, said between 70,000 and 80,000
British Columbians have hepatitis C, a chronic liver disease.
Read more…
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Tagged BC, Canada, Epidemiology, statistics

Canada: B.C. medical researchers offer treatment by prevention for hepatitis C

Hepatitis C Blog Posted on January 2, 2015 by Alan FranciscusDecember 13, 2015
Innovation: While stressing there is still work to be done when it comes to fighting HIV/AIDS – other provinces have not seen the same progress as B.C., and rates remain high in some First Nations communities – Dr. Montaner said one area he is watching is treatment of hepatitis C.
“I think one of the most exciting developments that is happening is the emergence of new treatment – highly effective, very simple, extremely well tolerated, but unfortunately very expensive – for hepatitis C.” – Julio Montaner, director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
Mel Krajden, medical head of hepatitis – clinical prevention services at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, said between 70,000 and 80,000 British Columbians have hepatitis C, a chronic liver disease.
Read more…
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Tagged BC, Canada, Epidemiology, statistics

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  • The study is aimed at assessing the safety and immunogenicity of HCV prime-boost vaccinations ChAd3-hliNSmut and MVA-hliNSmut, administered intramuscularly in healthy volunteers and DAA treated patients.
    The study is aimed at assessing the safety and immunogenicity of HCV prime-boost vaccinations ChAd3-hliNSmut and MVA-hliNSmut, administered intramuscularly in healthy volunteers and DAA treated patients. To read the entire study, click here Share This PageFollow Us … Continue reading → The post The study is aimed at assessing the safety and immunogenicity of HCV […]
  • Real-life Security and Efficacy of DAA-based Therapy in 1,000 HCV/HIV-Coinfected Patients – Spain
    The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of DAA-based regimens in the clinical practice in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Hypothesis: The efficacy and tolerability of all DAA-based regimens in the clinical practice is different to what is … Continue reading → The post Real-life Security and Efficacy of DAA-based Therapy in 1,000 […]

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