Province approves cancer drugs
Posted 04-14-2009 at 07:14 PM by admin
Fri. Jan 30 - 5:25 AM
Nova Scotia has approved funding for a new treatment for advanced kidney cancer and two other drugs to lessen the side effects of treatment for some patients.
The province is one of the first in Canada to approve Torisel, which is the only existing treatment for a form of advanced kidney cancer that affects about 15 per cent of people with kidney cancer, manufacturer Wyeth Canada said in a release.
Patients with incurable kidney cancer treated with the drug survived a median of 10.9 months in one study, said Judy McPhee, acting director of pharmaceutical services for Nova Scotia’s Health Department. There was previously no treatment for the minority of patients with non-clear-cell kidney cancer. The drug also offers a third treatment option to people with advanced clear-cell kidney cancer.
The department estimates 20 to 24 patients could benefit from the drug each year at a total cost of $425,000 to $510,000.
The province also recently accepted recommendations from the Cancer Systemic Therapy Policy Committee to fund Thyrogen, a drug used during treatment of some thyroid cancer patients, and Emend, a drug meant to reduce vomiting in people who are made very sick by chemotherapy.
Ms. McPhee said in each case the drugs should offer an improved quality of life to patients compared to previously available options.
She expects the province will spend between $130,000 and $150,000 on Thyrogen for about 100 people and about $25,000 on Emend for roughly 65 patients.
© 2009 The Halifax Herald Limited
Nova Scotia has approved funding for a new treatment for advanced kidney cancer and two other drugs to lessen the side effects of treatment for some patients.
The province is one of the first in Canada to approve Torisel, which is the only existing treatment for a form of advanced kidney cancer that affects about 15 per cent of people with kidney cancer, manufacturer Wyeth Canada said in a release.
Patients with incurable kidney cancer treated with the drug survived a median of 10.9 months in one study, said Judy McPhee, acting director of pharmaceutical services for Nova Scotia’s Health Department. There was previously no treatment for the minority of patients with non-clear-cell kidney cancer. The drug also offers a third treatment option to people with advanced clear-cell kidney cancer.
The department estimates 20 to 24 patients could benefit from the drug each year at a total cost of $425,000 to $510,000.
The province also recently accepted recommendations from the Cancer Systemic Therapy Policy Committee to fund Thyrogen, a drug used during treatment of some thyroid cancer patients, and Emend, a drug meant to reduce vomiting in people who are made very sick by chemotherapy.
Ms. McPhee said in each case the drugs should offer an improved quality of life to patients compared to previously available options.
She expects the province will spend between $130,000 and $150,000 on Thyrogen for about 100 people and about $25,000 on Emend for roughly 65 patients.
© 2009 The Halifax Herald Limited
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