Health Minister Jim Reiter. (Lisa Schick/CJME)

By CJME

Saskatchewan to cover new ALS treatment

Jun 30, 2020 | 11:31 AM

A new ALS treatment will be covered under the Saskatchewan Drug Plan.

On Tuesday, the provincial government announced it would provide coverage of Radicava for eligible residents who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Coverage of the intravenous infusion treatment is to start Wednesday.

Studies have shown Radicava can slow the progression of ALS in people who have just been diagnosed with the disease or who are in the early stages of the progressive nervous system disease.

“Radicava is the first new ALS treatment available in Canada in many years,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said in a media release.

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“While this is not a cure for ALS, we are proud to offer coverage for this treatment that can help people in the early stages of ALS slow the rate of progression of their disease.”

Radicava treatments cost approximately $123,000 per patient in the first year of treatment, and $120,000 annually afterward.

More details on the Saskatchewan Drug Plan can be found here.

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