Ontario approves new treatment for blindness

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LONG-TERM CARE

************************* Ontario second province to make new drug available to fight largest cause of blindness

Lucentis will be added to provincial drug formulary this month

TORONTO, ON - (March 13) - Ontarians suffering from the leading cause of blindness in Canada will now have access to the new prescription medicine Lucentis.

Neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative condition affecting central vision in people typically aged 50 and older.

Lucentis works to maintain and even improve vision affected by wet AMD. Today's investment of over $100 million over three years means that Ontarians suffering from AMD will for the first time have access to this groundbreaking drug.

Quotes

"Many people in Ontario, especially older people, will enjoy improved eyesight and quality of life with the availability of Lucentis through our publicly funded drug programs," said George Smitherman [shown], deputy premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

"We are extremely pleased that Lucentis, a product proven to prevent blindness, is being covered by Ontario's public drug programs," said Jim Sanders, CEO and president of CNIB. "I know that people with wet AMD, including many seniors, will be very happy with this announcement. It is clear that Ontario is establishing itself as a leader in meeting the needs of patients in need of important drug therapies." "The decision to cover Lucentis is fantastic news for the people of Ontario that suffer from macular degeneration," said Dr. Kyle Brydon, chair of the Ontario Medical Association's Section on Ophthalmology. "Lucentis is one of the most effective treatments for people suffering from the wet form of macular degeneration... The government's decision to cover Lucentis will allow many more patients to be treated and potentially avoid the devastating impact of sudden, irreversible blindness."

Quick facts - Approximately 10,000 patients are treated for AMD in Ontario each year.

- AMD affects the macula, an area of the retina responsible for detailed visual activities such as reading and facial recognition.

- Since October 2003 the McGuinty government has added 86 new brand-name drugs available in 154 different strengths and formats - including Lucentis - to the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary for reimbursement through the Ontario Public Drugs Programs. In addition, 15 drugs are reimbursed through the Exceptional Access Program.

Backgrounder

Ontario will now fund Lucentis under its public drug programs for Ontarians with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD

AMD is a chronic disease affecting central vision in people typically aged fifty and older.

There are two basic types of AMD, dry and wet.

Both types affect the eye’s macula, located in the centre of the retina, which is responsible for detailed visual activities such as reading and driving.

Wet AMD is more severe and involves the leaking of blood and other fluids into the macula.

Approximately 10,000 patients are treated for AMD in Ontario each year.

Lucentis

Lucentis is a prescription medicine developed for the treatment of patients with wet AMD.

It is administered as an injection into the eye by a physician and contains ranibizumab, an antineovascularisation agent designed to block the growth of abnormal blood vessels that can leak blood and other fluids.

Clinical research has shown that Lucentis not only stops vision deterioration associated with AMD, but improves visual capacity in 40 percent of cases.

Other prescription medicines have been used to treat patients with AMD in Canada.

Visudyne, currently offered under Ontario’s Public Drug Programs (OPDP), is a form of photodynamic therapy that can stem the loss of vision associated with AMD.

For more information, click here or here.

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