Funding for Multiple Sclerosis drug therapies approved under the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced that funding for four new drug therapies, Betaseron, Avonex, Copaxone and Rebif, used in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), will be provided under the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program (NLPDP). This is anticipated to cost the province approximately $1 million in the first year.

"The Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program has been working in a joint effort with the other Atlantic provinces to re-examine these products," said the minister. "Once a literature review was developed, each province was able to look at its own coverage policies. This review, as well as newly released information in June of this year, has been examined by our provincial expert advisory committee. In our case it has been determined that a block of funding will be allocated through the province's MS clinic to provide these therapies to patients who qualify under the government's existing drug programs and meet established guidelines."

While these drugs do not provide a cure for MS, and are not suitable for all patients, there are MS patients in this province who could potentially benefit from these new therapies. Dr. Pryse-Phillips, Professor of Medicine (Neurology), Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Medicine, strongly supports the coverage of these MS drug therapies.

"The full potential of these therapies is not yet known to us, but that they can significantly improve the quality of life of certain groups of people with MS is not questioned. However, they are very expensive indeed, and even where private insurance coverage is available, in some cases well over $2,000 per year still has to come out of the patients' pockets," said Dr. Pryse-Phillips.

"This funding initiative will make possible the continuing future provision of the patient support and training services that we in the MS Clinic have been providing without any funding at all up to now, as well as to the costs of the medications themselves. These are compassionate and appropriate actions by government and I heartily welcome them and the understanding in the Department of Health and Community Services that has led to them."

A recent announcement by the Nova Scotia government states their approval of similar funding for these drug therapies. Coverage will be determined through a strict set of guidelines. These guidelines will enable identification of patients who would most likely benefit from the use of these therapies. Similar to Nova Scotia, guidelines in Newfoundland and Labrador will be developed by the provincial expert committee.

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