- SKYRIZI™ is an interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor used for the
treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis.1
- In clinical studies, SKYRIZI™ significantly improved levels
of skin clearance after just 16 weeks and maintained clearance at
one year (52 weeks).1
- SKYRIZI™ is the only IL-23 inhibitor to arrive at a positive
conclusion with the pCPA and is currently listed on the provincial
formularies of Ontario,
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec.
- Ontario lists
SKYRIZI™ on its provincial formulary
effective January 31, 2020.
- Alberta lists
SKYRIZI™ on its provincial formulary
effective February 01, 2020.
- Saskatchewan lists
SKYRIZI™ on its provincial formulary
effective February 01, 2020.
- Quebec lists
SKYRIZI™ on its provincial formulary effective February 05, 2020.
MONTREAL, Feb. 6, 2020 /CNW/ - AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a
global, research and development-based biopharmaceutical company,
announced today that Ontario,
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec have listed SKYRIZI™ (risankizumab) on
their respective provincial formularies for the treatment of
moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. This announcement comes
just two months after AbbVie successfully reached an agreement with
the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) – bringing a
much-needed treatment to patients living with psoriasis.
"I have been working with SKYRIZI™ for the past four years as I
have been involved in the clinical trials. A cure does not exist
for psoriasis; however, this biologic therapy targets a cytokine,
IL-23, that regulates psoriasis. I have seen very positive,
long-lasting results, including improvements to the patient's
overall health and well-being. I am excited that more people
in Ontario will now have access to
this new targeted innovative therapy," states Dr. Melinda Gooderham, a dermatologist from the SKiN
Centre for Dermatology in Peterborough,
Ontario.
Psoriasis is a chronic condition affecting 125 million people
worldwide, including 1 million Canadians, and many patients despite
treatment still do not reach their goals or lose treatment response
over time.2-4 The most common form is plaque
psoriasis, which affects approximately 90% of patients.
5
"Psoriasis severely affects an individual's quality of life.
I am so pleased that my patients suffering with moderate to
severe psoriasis will now be able to access SKYRIZI™ through
Alberta's publicly funded
medication insurance program," explains Dr. Kirk Barber, Chief Dermatologist, Calgary
Treatment & Research. "In my clinical practice it has
been a significant advancement in treatment especially due to its
convenient dosing and predictable complete clearance - which is
long lasting."
Psoriasis is a significant problem in primary care, affecting
3.1% of the Canadian population.6 Of these
patients, 28% or approximately 325,000 Canadians are considered
moderate to severe.7
Information regarding specific provincial criteria may be found
by consulting the links below:
- Ontario Ministry of Health – Ontario Drug Benefit
Formulary
- Alberta Health Services – Alberta Drug Benefit List
- Government of Saskatchewan –
Saskatchewan Drug Formulary
- "Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec" – List of
Medications
SKYRIZI™ is part of a collaboration between Boehringer Ingelheim
and AbbVie, with AbbVie leading development and commercialization
globally.
"Our patients suffering from psoriasis now have access to highly
targeted and effective treatment options. Our knowledge about
the disease's immunopathology keeps improving. So is
treatment practicality, as some treatments have longer dosage
intervals and can be administered only once every 3 months,
for example. We are now in a position where we can virtually
control the disease in most psoriasis patients," says Dr.
Yves Poulin, a dermatologist and
dermatology professor at Université Laval. "New treatment
options like risankizumab are groundbreaking for our patients and
for our ability to provide them with adequate care, and
consequently improve their quality of life. And they deserve
it, given the destructive impact the disease has on their
life."
About SKYRIZI™
SKYRIZI™ is a novel, humanized
immunoglobulin monoclonal antibody designed to selectively inhibit
IL-23, a naturally occurring cytokine involved in inflammatory and
immune responses.1 On April
17, 2019, SKYRIZI™ received a NOC from Health Canada for the
treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients who
are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, based on
results from clinical studies showing significant improvement in
levels of skin clearance after just 16 weeks and at 52 weeks with
every 3-month dosing in more than 2000 adult patients.1
Four pivotal Phase 3 studies, ultIMMa-1, ultIMMa-2,
IMMvent and IMMhance evaluated more than 2,000 patients with
moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.4 Canadians living
with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were well represented in
all four of the pivotal clinical trials leading to Health Canada's
approval, showing the Canadian leadership in this clinical
development program. SKYRIZI™ is the only IL-23 inhibitor to
arrive to a positive conclusion with the pCPA and is currently
listed on the provincial formularies of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec.
About AbbVie Care
The AbbVie Care program is designed
to provide a wide range of customized services including
reimbursement and financial support, pharmacy services, lab work
reminders and coordination, personalized education and ongoing
disease management support throughout the treatment journey.
For more information, consult www.abbviecare.ca.
About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research and
development-based biopharmaceutical company committed to
developing innovative advanced therapies for some of the world's
most complex and critical conditions. The company's mission is to
use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to
innovation to markedly improve treatments across four primary
therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience.
In more than 75 countries, AbbVie employees are working every day
to advance health solutions for people around the world. For more
information about AbbVie, please visit us
at www.abbvie.ca and www.abbvie.com. Follow
@abbvieCanada and @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on
our Facebook or LinkedIn page.
References:
- SKYRIZI™ (risankizumab) [Canadian Product Monograph].
AbbVie Corporation, April 17,
2019.
- International Federation of Psoriasis Associations. Available
at: https://ifpa-pso.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Brochure-Psoriasis-is-a-serious-disease-deserving-global-attention.pdf.
Accessed March 22, 2019.
- Mroweitz, U., et al. Definition of treatment goals for moderate
to severe psoriasis: a European consensus. Arch Dermatol Res. 2011
Jan; 303(1): 1–10.
- Levin, et al. Biologic fatigue in psoriasis. J Dermatolog
Treat. 2014 Feb;25(1):78-82. doi:
10.3109/09546634.2013.826341.
- Canadian Dermatology Association – Psoriasis. Accessed on
February 5, 2020. Available at:
https://dermatology.ca/public-patients/skin/psoriasis/
- Papp K, Valenzuela F, Poulin Y, Bernstein G, Wasel N.
Epidemiology of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in a Canadian
surveyed population. J Cutan Med Surg. 2010;14(4):167-174.
- Petrella RJ, Gregory V, Luciani L, Barbeau M . Characteristics
of chronic plaque psoriasis in Canada: a retrospective database study. (PSS7)
Poster presented at ISPOR 19th Annual International Meeting,
Montréal, QC, Canada, May 2014. Accessed on February 5, 2020. Available at:
SOURCE AbbVie Canada