- Following the signing of an agreement between AbbVie and the
pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA), Quebec is the first province to reimburse the
combination treatment.
- VENCLEXTA® (venetoclax) plus obinutuzumab is the
first chemotherapy-free, fixed-duration combination regimen
approved by Health Canada for patients with previously untreated
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
MONTREAL, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a
research-based global biopharmaceutical company, announced today
that an agreement has been reached with the pan-Canadian
Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) for VENCLEXTA®
(venetoclax) in combination with obinutuzumab for the treatment of
adult patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic
leukemia (CLL). The regimen combines six 28-day cycles of
obinutuzumab with 12 cycles of VENCLEXTA.1
Effective November 10, on Québec's
Listes des médicaments, VENCLEXTA is listed in combination with
obinutuzumab, for the treatment of adult patients with previously
untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. For full criteria, consult
the list of medications in effect.2
"Being able to prescribe a therapy, such as venetoclax in
combination with obinutuzumab, that has a finite treatment
duration and manageable side effects is a welcomed option for my
patients. After completing the prescribed treatment regimen, I can
tell them that they can stop their medication because this
effective combination helps to delay disease progression," explains
Dr. Sarit Assouline, Physician,
Division of Hematology, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General
Hospital, Senior Investigator, Lady Davis Institute for Medical
Research, Associate Professor, Department of Oncology, McGill University.
In October 2020, the Institut
national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux
(INESSS) recommended that the Minister include VENCLEXTA, in
combination with obinutuzumab, on the Listes des médicaments for
the treatment of CLL. INESSS concluded that "the results of the
intermediate analysis show that the venetoclax/obinutuzumab
combination as first-line therapy in patients with CLL prolongs
progression-free survival in a statistically and clinically
meaningful way compared to the chlorambucil/obinutuzumab
combination."3
"Lymphoma Canada is pleased
that this combination is available on the Listes des médicaments in
Québec for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Due
to the nature of the disease and its high relapse rate, it is
important to offer patients effective treatment options so that
they can face their cancer journey with the comfort of knowing that
there are always alternatives," says Antonella Rizza, Chief Executive Officer,
Lymphoma Canada.
VENCLEXTA, in combination with obinutuzumab, is the third
indication for VENCLEXTA for the treatment of CLL, a first-in-class
B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitor. BCL-2 is a protein that
prevents cancer cells from undergoing apoptosis, the process that
leads to the natural death or self-destruction of cancer
cells. VENCLEXTA is also approved in combination with rituximab for
the treatment of adult patients with CLL who have received at least
one prior therapy, and as a monotherapy for the treatment of
patients with CLL with 17p deletion who have received at least one
prior therapy, or patients with CLL without 17p deletion who have
received at least one prior therapy and for whom there are no other
available treatment options.1
"We are very proud of this tremendous milestone bringing
VENCLEXTA plus obinutuzumab to people living with CLL in
Quebec. This combination is a
much-needed treatment option and reinforces our commitment to
people living with blood cancer," says Tracey Ramsay, Vice President and General
Manager, AbbVie Canada.
CLL, which is typically a slow-progressing cancer of the bone
marrow and blood[4], is one of the most common types of leukemia in
adults. In Canada, CLL accounts
for approximately 1,745 newly diagnosed cases of leukemia each year
and is responsible for more than 600 deaths a year.5
VENCLEXTA is jointly commercialized by AbbVie and Genentech, a
member of the Roche Group, in the U.S. and by AbbVie outside of the
U.S.
About AbbVie in Oncology
At AbbVie, we strive to
discover and develop medicines that deliver transformational
improvements in cancer treatment by uniquely combining our deep
knowledge in core areas of biology with cutting-edge technologies,
and by working together with our partners – scientists, clinical
experts, industry peers, advocates, and patients. We remain focused
on delivering these transformative advances in treatment across
some of the most debilitating and widespread cancers. We are also
committed to exploring solutions to help patients obtain access to
our cancer medicines. AbbVie's oncology portfolio consists of
marketed medicines and a robust pipeline containing multiple new
molecules being evaluated worldwide in more than 300 clinical
trials and more than 20 different tumor types.
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and
deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today
and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a
remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic
areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology,
women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and
services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more
information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.ca. Follow
@abbviecanada on Twitter or find us on LinkedIn.
_____________________________________
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1
|
Venclexta Product
Monograph. AbbVie Corporation, Canada.
https://www.abbvie.ca/content/dam/abbvie-dotcom/ca/en/documents/products/VENCLEXTA_PM_EN.pdf. Accessed
November 9, 2021
|
2
|
Régie de l'assurance
maladie du Québec's Listes des médicaments.
https://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/a-propos/liste-medicaments-fournis-etablissement.
Accessed November 9, 2021
|
3
|
Institut national
d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux.
https://www.inesss.qc.ca/fileadmin/doc/INESSS/Inscription_medicaments/Avis_au_ministre/Novembre_2020/Venclexta_2020_10.pdf.
Accessed November 9, 2021
|
4
|
Lymphoma Canada.
Chronic lymphocytic
leukemia.www.lymphoma.ca/lymphoma/lymphoma-101/types-lymphoma/cll. Accessed
November 9, 2021.
|
5
|
Canadian Cancer
Statistics. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
statistics.www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/leukemia-chronic-lymphocytic-cll/statistics/?region=on. Accessed
November 9, 2021.
|
SOURCE AbbVie Canada