Update: what’s happening with Ontario’s Interim Funding for eculizumab

We have heard again from the Government of Ontario (Ontario Public Drug Programs) regarding the interim funding criteria implemented in February 2015 for eculizumab (Soliris) for atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS). We would like to provide you with an update.

The latest information we received from them (as of June 16) contains the following: “To date we have received 19 requests for Soliris for use in aHUS.  Six of the requests have been approved and 3 were not accepted. The requests are being assessed against the criteria that we have in place.”

They also mentioned that changes to the current criteria, including those related to the transplant setting, will be considered based on new information they have received from CADTH (see CDEC RECORD OF ADVICE).

Furthermore, they stated, “As a result, some requests will be placed on hold pending the review of the criteria as noted. In some cases, we require additional information in order to process the request. The remaining 10 requests are either being assessed, require more information or are on hold. For any requests that are on hold, the requesting physician will be notified, and the application will be assessed based on the revised criteria.”

While it is encouraging to hear that there have been 6 approvals, we are disappointed that 3 are not accepted.  If you are one of the 6 approvals or one of the 3 not accepted, please contact us. We would also like to know which patients have been put on hold.

Any updates you can share with us in respect to your case would be very useful information for our organization to have, given that we are in continuous communication with the Government of Ontario.

aHUS Canada is watching the outcome of Ontario’s interim funding criteria very closely in order to assess the value of this interim decision and to determine how helpful it is to the aHUS community in Ontario. Any information you can provide to us will be helpful.