Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Canada, Inc. (MTP-CA), a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA), announced that Health Canada has approved the oral formulation of edaravone. This decision came after a 180-day priority review of the drug’s safety, efficacy and quality.
Health Canada’s approval of oral edaravone under a priority review pathway underscores the importance of equitable and expedited access to effective treatments. However, at this stage in the drug access processes, the drug is not yet covered through private or public drug programs. CADTH (and INESSS in Quebec) must complete its review of the therapy and then private, and provincial public drug plans must decide if they will cover the costs associated with the drug.
ALS Canada will continue to bring forward the perspectives of people affected by ALS and encourage CADTH, the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) and the provincial drug programs to make informed reimbursement decisions in a timeframe that more accurately reflects the reality of this devastating disease.
You can read more in MTP-CA’s press release and learn more about how drugs become approved and accessible in Canada by visiting our blog post on this topic.
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