Merck announces Zepatier coverage by Ontario, British Columbia

Ontario will become the first Canadian province to reimburse for Zepatier in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, effective Feb. 28, 2017, followed by British Columbia on Mar. 21, 2017, according to a press release from Merck.

Zepatier (elbasvir/grazoprevir, Merck Canada) is a once-daily pill to be taken for 12 weeks. It is indicated in the treatment of chronic HCV genotypes 1, 3 or 4 infections in adult patients and has no ribavirin regimen for most patients.

Additionally, patient populations that include HCV and fibrosis stage F0 and F1 who are coinfected with HIV or hepatitis B or who have chronic kidney disease will be eligible for treatment as of Feb. 28 under the Ontario Drug Benefit Program, and as of Mar. 21 under British Columbia’s PharmaCare program.

“We’re pleased to have worked with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) and participating jurisdictions to provide access to Zepatier to patients who need it, including those at higher risk,” Chirfi Guindo, president and managing director of Merck Canada, said in the release. “Hepatitis C is a curable disease and today’s announcement brings us one step closer to eradicating the virus in Canada.”

In June 2016, the Government of Canada announced its Global Strategy on Viral Hepatitis and its objective to eliminate HBV and HCV in Canada by 2030.

Reference: www.merck.ca