Alberta health minister signs on to federal deal for rare disease drugs
Drugs include potentially life-changing treatments; Poteligeo, Oxlumo and Epkinly
Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange has signed a deal with her federal counterpart to expand access to medication for people with rare diseases.
LaGrange joined federal Health Minister Mark Holland in Edmonton on Thursday to announce millions in spending on both emerging and proven drugs, as well as on diagnostics and screening.
The drugs include Poteligeo for treating Sezary syndrome, Oxlumo for hyperoxaluria type 1 and Epkinly for large B-cell lymphoma.
LaGrange says the move will help support Albertans living with rare diseases and open the door to potentially life-changing treatments.
Holland says the deal is a step toward building a stronger public health system for Albertans and aims to give Albertans with rare diseases the "best health outcomes possible."
"Having access to both innovative new drugs and proven long-standing drugs is an important way to support Albertans living with rare disease," LaGrange said in a statement.
"This funding will improve Albertans' access to potentially life-changing treatments using the province's existing programs."
Sézary syndrome affects about 1 in 10 million people annually, primary hyperoxalurias type 1 affects around three people in one million, and large B-cell lymphoma affects about seven in 100,000 people annually, the province said in Thursday's statement.
Alberta is the third province behind B.C. and Newfoundland and Labrador to sign on to a federal deal under the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases.