Eligibility criteria will be expanded on Tuesday (September 13) based on a recommendation from Canada’s expert panel on drugs. Trikafta is a triple combination drug of ivacaftor, tezacaftor and elexacaftor, used to treat cystic fibrosis in patients who have at least one F508del mutation. It has been shown to improve lung function and quality of life as well as reduce the frequency of lung attacks. When the drug was first listed in September 2021, patients had to be 12 years or older and have a forced expiratory volume (FEV) of less than 90 percent. The expert panel has now issued a new recommendation for expanded eligibility criteria to include children aged six to 11 and people aged 12 and over with an FEV of more than 90%. “Living with cystic fibrosis is a daily struggle for both patients and their families,” said Adrian Dix, Minister for Health. “Expanding access to Trikafta for children ages six to 11 provides an additional treatment option for the hundreds of people living with cystic fibrosis in BC. The drug is covered under the BC Expensive Drugs for Rare Diseases process, which allows patients to access high-cost drugs for rare diseases on a case-by-case basis. Currently, about 150 people in B.C. benefit from Trikafta PharmaCare coverage. An estimated 185 more people are expected to become eligible under the expanded criteria. Cystic fibrosis, which affects about 500 people in BC, is a genetic disease that largely affects a person’s lungs, but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestine. Long-term challenges can include breathing difficulties and complications, including frequent lung flare-ups. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
