- Quebec becomes the first
province to reimburse Vascepa for the reduction of cardiovascular
risk in patients with established cardiovascular disease
- Private drug plan reimbursement for Vascepa is available
in-label for cardiovascular prevention for more than 90% of
privately covered lives in Canada
TORONTO, May 24, 2022
/CNW/ - HLS Therapeutics Inc. ("HLS" or the "Company") (TSX: HLS),
a pharmaceutical company focusing on central nervous system and
cardiovascular markets, announces that it has successfully entered
into a Product Listing Agreement ("PLA") with the Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services,
for the listing and public reimbursement of Vascepa (icosapent
ethyl) on the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan of the Régime
de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec ("RAMQ"), effective May 26, 2022.
Vascepa will be reimbursed by RAMQ for the secondary prevention
of cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal
myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, coronary revascularization
or hospitalization for unstable angina) in statin-treated patients
with established cardiovascular disease and elevated
triglycerides.
"This is an important milestone in the commercialization of
Vascepa as Quebec is the first
province to provide public coverage for the product and it has one
of Canada's largest publicly
funded drug plans," said Gilbert
Godin, CEO of HLS. "Vascepa represents a significant
innovation in cardiovascular prevention, and we are pleased to
bring this potentially life-saving medication to the people in the
province of Quebec who are
battling cardiovascular disease, which is the number one killer
worldwide. We are working with other provinces and territories to
secure coverage for Vascepa from their publicly funded drug plans
and will provide further updates on our progress as they
occur."
As disclosed previously, HLS has achieved reimbursement for
Vascepa for more than 90% of privately covered lives in
Canada for statin-treated patients
with elevated triglycerides, who are at high risk of cardiovascular
events due to established cardiovascular disease, or due to
diabetes, and at least one other cardiovascular risk factor.
ABOUT VASCEPA (ICOSAPENT ETHYL)
CAPSULES
VASCEPA capsules are the first-and-only prescription treatment
comprised solely of the active ingredient, icosapent ethyl (IPE), a
unique form of eicosapentaenoic acid. VASCEPA was approved by
Health Canada and added to Health Canada's Register of Innovative
Drugs and benefits from data protection for a term of eight years,
as well as being the subject of multiple issued and pending patents
based on its unique clinical profile. HLS in-licensed the
exclusive rights to VASCEPA for the Canadian market from Amarin
Corporation (NASDAQ:AMRN).
ABOUT HLS THERAPEUTICS INC.
Formed in 2015, HLS is a pharmaceutical company focused on the
acquisition and commercialization of late-stage development,
commercial stage promoted and established branded pharmaceutical
products in the North American markets. HLS's focus is on products
targeting the central nervous system and cardiovascular therapeutic
areas. HLS's management team is composed of seasoned pharmaceutical
executives with a strong track record of success in these
therapeutic areas and at managing products in each of these
lifecycle stages. For more information visit:
www.hlstherapeutics.com
FORWARD LOOKING
INFORMATION
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding
HLS and its business. Such statements are based on the current
expectations and views of future events of HLS's management. In
some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by
words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan",
"anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the
negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to
identify forward-looking statements, including, among others,
statements with respect to HLS's pursuit of additional product and
pipeline opportunities in certain therapeutic markets, statements
regarding growth opportunities, expectations regarding financial
performance, and the NCIB and ASPP. The forward-looking events and
circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could
differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and
uncertainties affecting HLS, including risks relating to the
specialty pharmaceutical industry, risks related to the regulatory
approval process, economic factors and many other factors beyond
the control of HLS. Forward-looking statements and information by
their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause HLS's actual
results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be
materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement
or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. A
discussion of the material risks and assumptions associated with
this release can be found in the Company's Annual Information Form
dated March 16, 2022, and
Management's Discussion and Analysis dated May 4, 2022, both of which have been filed on
SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers
should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements
or information. Except as required by applicable securities laws,
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they
are made and HLS undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise.
SOURCE HLS Therapeutics Inc.