Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are both hematological malignancies characterized by rapid onset. While AML is more common than ALL, both typically receive cytotoxic chemotherapy in first line. Upon complete remission, patients will be considered for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The economic burden of malignant blood disorders…
CADTH Horizon Scanning bulletins present an overview of the technology and available evidence. They are not systematic reviews and do not involve critical appraisal, nor do they include a detailed summary of study findings. Therefore, they are not intended to provide recommendations for or against a particular technology.
Canada recently entered into two multinational trade agreements (i.e., the Canada, United States, and Mexico Trade Agreement; and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union). The resulting federal policy changes will prolong periods of market protection afforded to eligible brand-name prescription drugs by extending competition-blocking patent and data…
| Aidan Hollis
A common narrative is that high prices are necessary for "orphan drugs" because of the fewer patients. In the context of state health insurance systems, the high prices create significant challenges because of limited budgets.
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is an important indicator in the development and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Herein, we describe the management of LDL-C with lipid-lowering therapy, among patients diagnosed with clinical ASCVD in Alberta, Canada.
The treatment landscape of multiple myeloma (MM) is rapidly evolving with the availability of new therapeutic options leading to improved responses and survival rates. The INFORMM study, an ongoing, province-wide study in Alberta, Canada (population of 4.3 million in 2018), is examining treatment patterns in a real-world setting using population-based administrative data to better…
The clinical outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) have improved. However, early mortality (EM) post-diagnosis remains a concern, with incidence ranging from 13% at 2 months to 29% at 1 year after diagnosis. EM can be influenced by patient age, comorbidities, performance status, therapy, and disease biology. Our aim is to examine EM incidence in patients…
Most pharmaceutical expenditure in Canada is private. In 2017, Canadian provincial, territorial and federal governments were reported to have spent $14.5 billion on pharmaceuticals, accounting for only 43% of total pharmaceutical expenditure.1 A combination of private insurance and patient expenditures in the form of direct payment for pharmaceuticals, deductibles and other…
High orphan drug prices have gained the attention of payers and policy makers. These prices may reflect the need to recoup the cost of drug development from a small patient pool. However, estimates of the cost of orphan drug development are sparse.