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The Canadian Drug Review (CADTH) has announced two more new drugs for people with hepatitis C. Both need our patient group input BEFORE MIDNIGHT Tuesday AUGUST 26th! Revolade (Promacta in the USA or “eltrombopag olamine”) by Glaxo Smith Kline, and Zaxine (Xifaxan in the USA or “rifaximin”) by Salix Pharmaceuticals, are not the “cures” we have all been focusing on recently. Instead, Revolade is used in the treatment of people who are experiencing Thrombocytopenia (low platelets, poor blood clotting), a severe and potentially dangerous symptom of cirrhosis and side effect of hepatitis C treatment, while Zaxine is for people who are experiencing Hepatitic Encephalopathy (HE), a common component of end stage liver disease.
We are looking for people (anywhere in Canada) to submit who meet one or more of these criteria…
For REVOLADE (Promacta in USA or “eltrombopag olamine”) submission:
- have suffered (or continue to suffer) from low platelets (thrombocytopenia)
- are in danger of developing thrombocytopenia
- are avoiding treatment out of fear of developing thrombocytopenia
- were given or are now taking this drug
- were given or are now taking another drug for low platelets
- are or have been a caregiver of someone who meets the above criteria
For ZAXINE (Xifaxan in USA or “rifaximin”) submission:
- have suffered (or continue to suffer) from hepatic encephalopathy (HE)
- are in danger of developing HE
- were given or are now taking this drug
- were given or are now taking another drug for HE (such as lactulose)
- are or have been a caregiver of someone who meets the above criteria
We urge you to think carefully about how having or not having access to these drugs when one needs them can affect patients’ lives, as well as impact their loved ones. Please consider commenting on these drugs to help HepCBC write a really good patient group submission. We need your help before Tuesday, August 26th. This is incredibly important, and every voice we can include makes our submissions better, plus the greater number of voices, the more validity we can claim.
These drugs must first pass through this CADTH process; only after that can they be considered for reimbursement by provincial PharmaCare, which will take several additional months. By giving your input for CADTH now (and once again when PharmaCare requests our patient group submission), you can enable doctors to provide some HCV patients the strength to continue treatment, or to think clearly enough to continue working — or simply avoid going into a coma. It doesn’t take long, and you or someone you love might benefit from these drugs someday. Thanks!
FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THESE DRUGS AND HOW TO DO A SHORT SUBMISSION TO HepCBC FOR INCLUSION IN OUR DRUG REVIEW:
Zaxine (“Xifaxan” in the USA; chemical name “rifaximin”) for hepatic encephalopathy (HE)
Thanks! We look forward to your submissions!
Feel free to share this link with other chronic hepatitis C patients, especially those in Canada. Thanks!