Great news for sufferers of migraines – Vyepti® (eptinezumab for injection) has recently received public formulary coverage from the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, and the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program (NIHB).
Combined, this coverage allows more than 70% of eligible Canadian patients living with migraines to have access to Vyepti® who rely on public drug plans for reimbursement of their treatments.
Indicated for the prevention of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days per month, it is an important tool in the arsenal of treatment options available to Canadians. Vyepti® is the first Health Canada-approved intravenous (IV) treatment for migraine prevention.
“Based on real-world data in Canada, we know that migraines put a significant burden on the patient, family members and the healthcare system. It has a huge socioeconomic impact, yet it is still sub-optimally treated. New, affordable, effective, and well-tolerated treatments are important tools in reducing the burden of migraine and paving the path to further optimizing management of this disabling neurological disorder,” said Dr. Farnaz Amoozegar, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Calgary and Hotchkiss Brain Institute.
The recent public formulary coverage of Vyepti® removes a barrier to access for those seeking a new therapy solution in these provinces. “Equitable access to new treatment options across Canada is critical for those living with migraine,” said Wendy Gerhart, Executive Director, Migraine Canada. “While this is great news for the many patients reliant on the public system in the majority of provinces, there remain gaps and inequities in other areas of Canada where patients need alternatives.”
In addition, the majority of private healthcare plans offer coverage of Vyepti® for eligible Canadians living with migraine. “Throughout our engagement efforts, we have heard both patients and healthcare professionals speak to the importance of new treatment options,” said Michal Juul Sørensen, Vice President and General Manager, Lundbeck Canada. “This encouraging development in public coverage means that more Canadians can get the help they need. We thank the provinces and public decision makers who have shown their support.”
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