Le Lézard
Classified in: Health
Subject: CPG

Targeted melanoma combination therapy Tafinlar® plus Mekinist® now reimbursed in Quebec for adjuvant melanoma patients with BRAF V600 mutation and lymph node involvement(i)


DORVAL, QC, Oct. 8, 2019 /CNW/ - Novartis is pleased to announce that the combination of Tafinlar® (dabrafenib) and Mekinist® (trametinib) is now listed under the Quebec public drug insurance plan to prevent recurrence of melanoma (adjuvant therapy) following surgery for eligible melanoma patients with the BRAF V600 mutationii. The combination use of the two Novartis cancer therapies as targeted treatment will be reimbursed for patients who meet specific criteria.

Logo: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada (CNW Group/Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.)

"Having this targeted treatment option for melanoma patients with the BRAF V600 mutation following surgery is an important step forward to prevent recurrence of this disease which has a high risk of recurrence," said Dr. Joël Claveau, Dermatologist at the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Clinic at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Hôtel-Dieu de Québec in Quebec City. "When we treat melanoma, we are always looking ahead and having new treatment options available for different melanoma patients is critical. This is very good news for melanoma patients in Quebec."

This year, an estimated 7,800 Canadians will receive a melanoma diagnosisiii. Changes or mutations in the BRAF gene, specifically a BRAF V600E or BRAF V600K mutation, are found in about half of all melanomasiv.

"Novartis is very pleased with the decision by the Quebec government to make this combination therapy available to eligible patients. Our commitment to cancer care includes bringing new treatment options to patients with the goal of transforming the way they live with cancer," said Christian Macher, Country President & General Manager, Oncology, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.

Combination use of Tafinlar® plus Mekinist® is approved by Health Canada to treat patients with melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation and involvement of lymph node(s), following complete resection and for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic BRAF V600 mutated melanomai.

Tafinlar® (dabrafenib) + Mekinist® (trametinib) Important Safety Information
The full prescribing information for Tafinlar® and Mekinist® can be found at: www.novartis.ca.

About Novartis in Canada
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., a leader in the healthcare field, is committed to the discovery, development and marketing of innovative products to improve the well-being of all Canadians. In 2018, the company invested $52 million in research and development in Canada. Located in Dorval, Quebec, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs approximately 1,000 people in Canada and is an affiliate of Novartis AG, which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. For further information, please consult www.novartis.ca.

About Novartis
Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach more than 750 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 108,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at www.novartis.com.

Tafinlar and Mekinist are registered trademarks.

References

____________________
i Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Tafinlar® and Mekinist® Product Monographs. April 12, 2019.
ii Régie de l'assurance maladie Québec (RAMQ). List of medications in effect October 2 (2019). Accessed October 8, 2019 at:http://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/liste_med/2019/liste_med_2019_10_02_en.pdf 
iii Canadian Cancer Society. Melanoma skin cancer statistics. Accessed October 8, 2019 at:  
 https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/skin-melanoma/statistics/?region=on 
iv Canadian Cancer Society. Targeted therapy drugs used for melanoma skin cancer. Accessed October 8, 2019 at: https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/skin-melanoma/treatment/targeted-therapy/?region=on

SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.


These press releases may also interest you

at 09:58
Lutheran Senior Services (LSS), a mission-driven, nonprofit network that specializes in housing, care and supportive services for older adults, and Diakon, a Lutheran organization that offers a continuum of senior lifestyle and healthcare services,...

at 09:56
The Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment (CFDT) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has once again received prestigious recognition from Press Ganey, a healthcare company that evaluates...

at 09:54
The Department of Health ? Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eli Lilly Suisse SA, a global pharmaceutical company, and the World Obesity Federation (WOF), a global...

at 09:38
Atlanta's premier indoor multi-sports facility, Intown Stars Training and Events Center has been honored with several prestigious awards from the Georgia Business Journal's Best of Georgia and Atlanta Magazine's Best of Atlanta awards.   Through the...

at 09:35
ReAlta Life Sciences, Inc. ("ReAlta" or the "Company"), a mid-stage clinical biotech company dedicated to saving lives by rebalancing the inflammatory response to address life-threatening diseases, today announces that the company will be utilizing...

at 09:30
Athletico Physical Therapy has opened a new location in Grand Blanc, Michigan, located across from Kroger and next to Starbucks on S. Saginaw Rd. This location offers convenient hours, including early morning, late evening and Saturday appointments,...



News published on and distributed by: