Alberta Approves Boceprevir and Telaprevir for People Living with HIV and Viral Hepatitis
When will other provincial formularies follow
December 3, 2012 - Toronto, ON: As of World AIDS Day this year, the Government of Alberta took
a major step, approving the use of boceprevir (Victrelis, Merck) and telaprevir (Incivek, Vertex) - two new medications used
as part of a combination therapy[i] to treat Hepatitis C genotype 1(HCV-1) - for all people living with Hepatitis C,
including people living with Hepatitis C who are co-infected with HIV.
While boceprevir and telaprevir have been shown to be safe and effective in HCV/HIV co-infected people in phase 3 clinical
trials, Alberta's is the first provincial formulary allowing their use with co-infected populations. HCV/HIV co-infection
is a serious, life-threatening condition with liver health complications (including liver disease and liver cancer)
accelerating decades quicker than in those living with Hepatitis C alone.
"We applaud the Government of Alberta for making the right decision and taking the urgent health needs of
Hepatitis C and HIV co-infected people seriously," said Akim Adé Larcher, CTAC's Executive Director. "It's
shameful that no other province or territory has approved either drug for co-infected people, despite the evidence."
In November, boceprevir and telaprevir were both awarded the innovative product Prix Galien award.
They are the first direct antivirals for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype 1, both of which have substantially increased cure rates for Hepatitis C from 30-50% to 60-80% . CTAC urges all Canadian
formularies to expand Hepatitis C treatment access to include boceprevir and telaprevir for all affected patients, regardless of where they live, their financial status or disease progression.
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For more information please contact:
Akim Adé Larcher,
+1 416-268-1622,
akim@ctac.ca
ABOUT CTAC
The Canadian Treatment Action Council (CTAC) works to secure and ensure access to therapies, treatments and care for people living with HIV/AIDS,
including those who are co-infected, by working with the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. For more information on CTAC's mandate,
mission and work please visit www.ctac.ca .
"Reproduced with permission - CTAC Canadian Treatment Action Council "
CTAC
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