News

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR EXPAND ACCESS TO TRIKAFTA, ENSURES LIFE CHANGING DRUG IS ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT

August 22, 2022

TORONTO, August 22, 2022 – Newfoundland and Labrador has expanded access to the revolutionary cystic fibrosis (CF) drug, Trikafta. The province has also removed the restrictive start criterion around lung function implemented last year for people 12 years of age and older. Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest Canadian jurisdiction to fund the drug for children and adults aged six and older with at least one F508del gene mutation. With the exception of British Columbia, all other public payers, have expanded access to Trikafta. Cystic Fibrosis Canada urges British Columbia to follow the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (CADTH)'s 2022 recommendation and immediately fund Trikafta for all who can benefit.

Trikafta is considered the single greatest innovation in the history of cystic fibrosis. It can treat up to 90% of Canadians with cystic fibrosis and addresses the underlying causes of the disease instead of just managing the symptoms, potentially preventing irreversible damage caused by this progressive disease. 

“This is a day that our community has fought long and hard for. Today’s news will change the trajectory of the disease, and the future, for many children and adults in Newfoundland and Labrador who live with cystic fibrosis,” said Dr. John Wallenburg, Chief Scientific Officer, Cystic Fibrosis Canada. “Now, we call on British Columbia, the only remaining province that has not moved to fund the drug for children to move swiftly to cover this drug for those aged six and older under CADTH’s new guidance. It is unacceptable that British Columbia has not yet funded Trikafta for this new age group. The longer people and families with cystic fibrosis wait for access could mean more irreversible damage done to their bodies.”

Health Canada approved Trikafta for use in the six to 11 age group in April 2022 and on July 6, 2022, CADTH issued a positive recommendation to fund the drug. This new recommendation from CADTH supersedes the recommendation issued in 2021 for the 12 and older age group, which included a recommendation to implement a restrictive start criterion of a lung function measurement of 90% or less.

Cystic Fibrosis Canada now calls on British Columbia to quickly fund Trikafta using CADTH’s new recommendation and Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s clinician-developed guidelines for access and continuation. This drug should be accessible for all who could benefit from it. 

“I commend and thank the NL government for making sure that 6–11-year old's living with CF now have access to a life changing drug in Trikafta. We have worked diligently here in NL and across Canada to make sure this came to fruition and this news is a beacon of hope for many CF families across Newfoundland" - John Bennett, CF father and advocate.

For CF advocacy news, subscribe to Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s advocacy e-newsletter "The Advocacy Brief". 

Members of the community and supporters are invited to join Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s #TrikaftaToday briefing on Wednesday, August 24 at 2:30 pm NT to discuss the most recent updates related to accessing Trikafta in Canada. Follow this link to register for the briefing. 

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For more information:  

Tel: (905)-317-5529 

Email: nyoung@cysticfibrosis.ca  

Nicole Young, Director, Marketing and Communications