TAF (Vemlidy) now listed for hepatitis B virus treatment on provincial and federal formularies in Canada
July 30, 2026
CATIE
- Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is recommended for treating hepatitis B
- However, many people do not have private insurance and cannot afford the drug
- Provinces across Canada recently agreed to subsidize TAF for people with hepatitis B
Rates of new hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections continue to increase in Canada. There are approximately 262,000 people living with chronic HBV in Canada—and scientists estimate that nearly 50% of these people are not aware that they have HBV. If left undiagnosed and untreated, chronic HBV can cause serious complications, including liver cancer. HBV infection is spread through similar routes as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV. HBV can be detected with blood tests and treatment is available. There is also a vaccine that can help to prevent HBV infection.
Canada has endorsed the World Health Organization strategy to eliminate hepatitis B virus as a public health issue by 2030. The Public Health Agency of Canada has also developed an action plan to help reduce the spread of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBIs), and this includes HBV.
A team of leading healthcare providers and scientists from the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL) and the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI) comprised a panel that updated the HBV guidelines. The updated guidelines are rich in detail and are available here.
HBV treatment
A major advance in the treatment of chronic HBV is the drug TAF (tenofovir alafenamide; sold under the brand name Vemlidy). Clinical trials have found that the use of TAF in people with HBV is generally safe and effective. As a result, leading HBV guidelines in Canada and other countries recommend the use of TAF for HBV treatment.
Recently, all provincial ministries of health have placed TAF on their list of medicines that are subsidized for people with HBV. These lists are called formularies. In addition, federal formularies, including Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB), have listed TAF.
To find out more about the status of TAF on your region’s formulary, speak to your pharmacist.
—Sean R. Hosein
Resources
Comprehensive hepatitis B virus guidelines available in Canada – CATIE News
The management of chronic hepatitis B: 2025 Guidelines update from the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver and Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada
Hepatitis B Basics – CATIE
Hepatitis B and C in Canada: Why testing matters – CATIE
REFERENCE:
Gilead Sciences Canada. Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) tablets. Product monograph. 20 August 2020.
From Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE).
This content was originally published by CATIE, Canada’s source for HIV and hepatitis C information.
Source: CATIE:
https://www.catie.ca/catie-news/comprehensive-hepatitis-b-virus-guidelines-available-in-canada
For more information visit CATIE's Information Network at www.catie.ca
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