Tremfya

Refer to the Executive Officer Communications on the Ministry website for the Ministry’s Biosimilar Policy including frequently asked questions and updates for the biosimilar policy updates. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/opdp_eo/eo_communiq.aspx

Effective March 31, 2023, the ODB program will start transitioning coverage for Copaxone®, Enbrel®, Humalog®, Humira®, Lantus®, NovoRapid®, Remicade®, and Rituxan® to their biosimilar versions.

Effective December 29, 2023, coverage for these originator biologic drugs through the ODB program will not be available for patients and the ODB program will only provide coverage for the biosimilar version of these drugs for all ODB program recipients, with limited exemptions. In general, for ODB program recipients who are already on these biologic drugs, there is up to a 9-month transition period (see the biosimilar switch policy described on page 6 to 8 of this document).

It should be noted that after the date when a biosimilar becomes publicly funded for an approved indication, patients initiated on an originator biologic for this same provincially funded indication through support from a manufacturer’s patient support program, will be expected to be provided ongoing access of the originator biologic through the patient’s original payer mechanism (e.g. manufacturer’s patient support program) or to switch to an ODB funded biosimilar version upon meeting specified criteria. The Ministry will no longer consider funding of originator biologics that are part of the biosimilar policy with limited exemptions on or after December 29, 2023.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Initiation Criteria:

For the treatment of psoriatic arthritis in patients who have:

• Severe active disease (≥5 swollen joints and radiographic evidence of psoriatic arthritis) despite treatment with methotrexate (20 mg/week) for at least 3 months and one of leflunomide (20 mg/day) or sulfasalazine (1 g twice daily) for at least 3 months. 

If the patient has documented contraindications or intolerances to methotrexate, then only one of leflunomide (20 mg/day) or sulfasalazine (1 g twice daily) for at least 3 months is required. Details of contraindications and intolerances must also be provided. 

Duration of Approval of initials: 1 Year 

Renewal will be considered for patients with objective evidence of at least a 20% reduction in swollen joint count and a minimum of improvement in 2 swollen joints over the previous year. For renewals beyond the second year, objective evidence of preservation of treatment effect must be provided.