Nova Scotia to cover the cost of cystic fibrosis drug Trikafta
Nova Scotia's health minister says the government will cover the cost of the cystic fibrosis drug Trikafta.
Michelle Thompson says she expects the drug to be on the provincial formulary by the end of November.
Thompson, who announced the decision in the legislature on Thursday, says the current list price for a 28-day supply of Trikafta is about $23,000.
Last month, Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan announced they would pay for the drug, which costs roughly $300,000 a year per patient at its list price under those provinces' publicly funded drug programs.
Cystic Fibrosis Canada has called Trikafta the "biggest innovation in cystic fibrosis treatment," and the group has noted that research indicates the drug could be effective in 90 per cent of patients.
Nova Scotia's decision affects more than 180 patients in that province, while Cystic Fibrosis Canada estimates about 4,300 Canadians have the disease.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.