KALYDECO™

KALYDECO™ (ivacaftor) is a prescription medicine for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients ages six years and older who have the specific G551D mutation in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator (CFTR) gene. In Canada, the number of patients with this mutation is about 100. KALYDECO™, a pill taken twice a day with fat-containing food, helps the protein made by the CFTR gene function better and, as a result, improves lung function and other aspects of cystic fibrosis such as increasing weight.

On November 26th, 2012, Health Canada approved KALYDECO™ for use in Canada. On March 26th, 2013, it was announced that the Canadian Drug Expert Committee recommends that KALYDECO be listed on the formulary listing of publicly funded drug plans for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients age six years and older who have the G551D mutation in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator. Quebec has its own drug review process through the Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS).

Read our blog to learn more about Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s advocacy efforts on KALYDECO™.

kalydeCARE™

kalydeCARE™ is a Patient Assistance Program for patients who have been have been prescribed KALYDECO by their health care provider. For more information please call: 1-855-CARE-571 (1-855-227-3571).

Background Documents

• The full recommendation of the Canadian Drug Expert Committee (26 March 2013)
• Cystic Fibrosis Canada news release responding to the recommendation of the Canadian Drug Expert Committee (26 March 2013)
• Statement from Vertex Pharmaceuticals in response to the recommendation of the Canadian Drug Expert Committee (26 March 2013)
• Cystic Fibrosis Canada news release on Health Canada’s approval of KALYDECO (3 December 2012)
• Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s Patient Input Submission to the Canadian Drug Expert Committee (19 October 2012).
   

Reviewed/updated: 2013-05-10