INESSS recognizes sotatercept's therapeutic value but recommends against public funding
Vancouver BC (5 December 2024) -- The Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada is disappointed that the Institut national d'excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS) recommended against publicly funding sotatercept for cost reasons, despite recognizing its therapeutic effect. We urge Québec's Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, to join the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance in negotiating the price of sotatercept despite the INESSS decision.
Sotatercept is a promising new treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, with a novel mechanism that potentially addresses disease progression. In clinical trials, it had significant benefits for people’s functionality and mortality risk. Negotiating the price of this drug is the only way to improve its cost-effectiveness.
Canada's Drug Agency makes public funding recommendations for the rest of Canada and has recommended that provinces and territories fund sotatercept.
"The INESSS recommendation is extremely disappointing,” said Dr. David Langleben, Director of the Center for Pulmonary Vascular Disease at Jewish General Hospital in Montréal. ”Sotatercept has a unique mechanism of action in PAH, and it has dramatic effects in lowering the very high pulmonary arterial pressure. Our patients that have received it have had impressive clinical improvement, to the point that we have been able to reduce or stop other costly PAH medications. It has saved some of my patients from dying. Unfortunately, other patients have died because of a lack of access to it. I am hoping that the Ministry of Health in Quebec will re-examine the INESSS recommendation and recognize the value of sotatercept. Its appropriate use in specialized PH centers has become a world-wide recommendation."
Sotatercept offers hope to pulmonary arterial hypertension patients in Québec. These patients deserve hope just as much as other Canadians. Minister Dubé has a chance to keep that hope alive by ensuring the best possible price is negotiated for this important drug.
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BACKGROUND
INESSS recommendation: https://www.inesss.qc.ca/fileadmin/doc/INESSS/Inscription_medicaments/Avis_au_ministre/D%C3%A9cembre_2024/20241104_AvisMinistre.pdf
CDA recommendation: https://www.cda-amc.ca/sotatercept
About the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada (PHA Canada)
PHA Canada is a federally registered charity whose mission is to empower the Canadian pulmonary hypertension community through support, education, advocacy, awareness, and research. PHA Canada was established in 2008 by patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to work together to better the lives of Canadians affected by pulmonary hypertension and represent a united national pulmonary hypertension community.
More about pulmonary hypertension and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada: https://www.phacanada.ca
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For more information or to schedule an interview in English or French, please contact:
Jeremy Durand
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada
1 877-774-2226 ext. 102
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