Based on data from two phase 3 clinical trials, Health Canada has approved the use of upadacitinib to treat adults with active psoriatic arthritis.
Health Canada Approves CT-P13 SC for RA; Plus Tofacitinib May Increase Cardiac & Cancer Risks
In Canada, a subcutaneous formulation of CT-P13, which is biosimilar to infliximab, was approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Risankizumab & Apremilast Come to Market in Canada
In Canada, five provinces will now reimburse patients with plaque psoriasis who use risankizumab. Also, Canada Health has approved apremilast for treating adults with plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis…
Canada & E.U. Approve Upadacitinib for RA
Upadacitinib will soon be available to treat patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in Canada and the E.U…
One-Third of U.S. Healthcare Spending Is Administrative Costs
(Reuters Health)—U.S. insurers and providers spent more than $800 billion in 2017 on administration, or nearly $2,500 per person—more than four times the per-capita administrative costs in Canada’s single-payer system, a new study finds. Over one-third of all healthcare costs in the U.S. were due to insurance company overhead and provider time spent on billing,…
British Columbia Will Be First Canadian Province to Switch Patients to Biosimilars
TORONTO/MONTREAL (Reuters)—The Canadian province of British Columbia said on May 28 that its public drug plan will switch as many as 20,400 patients from three branded biologic drugs to cheap near-copies called biosimilars, saving an estimated C$96.6 million ($71.9 million) over three years. The new policy from the province’s PharmaCare program targets Johnson & Johnson’s…
IV Meloxicam Stalls at FDA; Plus Health Canada Approves Risankizumab for Plaque Psoriasis
In a second response letter, the FDA has cited the onset and duration of intravenous meloxicam, a non-opioid pain treatment, as concerns that it fails to meet prescriber expectations…
Health Canada Approves Certolizumab Pegol & NICE Issues Guidance for Certolizumab Pegol
Certolizumab pegol has been approved in Canada for treating adults with plaque psoriasis. The U.K. has also issued its final guidance for the treatment’s use…
Canada Approves Erelzi for PsA; Plus FDA Moves to Increase Access to Naloxone
Health Canada has approved Erelzi, which is biosimilar to Enbrel (etanercept), for treating psoriatic arthritis in adults…
Awards, Appointments & Announcements in the World of Rheumatology
Canadian Pediatric Rheumatologist Invested into Order of Canada Peter Dent, MD, professor emeritus of pediatrics at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, was invested into the Order of Canada in May. The Order of Canada is the country’s highest civilian honor. “Dr. Dent has had a substantial positive impact on healthcare, in Hamilton and far…