Canadian per capita use and spending on drugs for chronic retinal diseases among the highest in the OECD

Spending on drug class grew by 16.7% in 2017 and stands at just under $700 million

OTTAWA, Dec. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB), through the National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System (NPDUIS) research initiative, today published the latest edition of the Market Intelligence Report: Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Anti-VEGF) Drugs for Retinal Conditions, 2017.

Biologic anti-VEGFs are a fast growing class of drugs used to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other retinal conditions. AMD is the leading cause of visual impairment in adults over 50, with the more serious "wet" form affecting over 100,000 Canadians.

The report, which focuses on Lucentis and Eylea, the two anti-VEGF drugs approved for retinal conditions, also considers Avastin, an anti-VEGF cancer drug that has widespread off-label use for retinal diseases.

This is the second edition of the PMPRB's Market Intelligence Report series, each featuring a therapeutic class of drugs marked by relatively high-use and high-prices in Canada compared to foreign markets.

Quick Facts

• In 2017, the combined sales of Lucentis and Eylea in Canada climbed to $692 million, an increase of $100 million or 16.7% over the previous year. Since 2008, cumulative sales for Lucentis and Eylea in Canada have amounted to more than $3.6 billion.
• Anti-VEGF drugs are predominantly reimbursed by public drug plans in Canada, as the senior population has a higher prevalence of AMD and other age-related retinal conditions.
• The average annual treatment cost for Lucentis is about $8,500 in public and private drug plans, while Eylea is comparable at around $8,300 in public plans and $8,700 in private plans. Avastin costs only a fraction of this at roughly $400.
• Canadian list prices of Lucentis and Eylea are the second highest among the PMPRB7, trailing only the US, with median PMPRB7 prices 37% lower for Lucentis and 15% lower for Eylea in 2017.

Related Products

• Market Intelligence Report: Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Anti-VEGF) Drugs, 2017 (Patented Medicine Prices Review Board)

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SOURCE Patented Medicine Prices Review Board