'She's gaining hope again': Ontario provides coverage for costly yet life-saving drug
Madi Vanstone is hoping that next week, she'll have access to a life-saving treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF) that has just been approved for coverage in Ontario.
On Friday, the Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that they would now provide coverage for Trikafta, a drug meant to treat CF patients that Madi’s mom, Beth Vanstone, calls “the golden goose.”
“[On Trikafta], people have come off of life support and out of their hospital beds and are back to work,” Vanstone told CTV News Toronto in July.
In June, Health Canada announced its approval of Trikafta, but the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance still had to negotiate pricing with manufacturer Vertex before getting the drug onto shelves and into the hands of patients.
Without coverage, the drug costs approximately US$300,000 a year per patient.
When the news came Friday that Ontario would provide coverage for the drug, Vanstone said Madi began sobbing immediately.
“She was so relieved and happy and excited,” Vanstone told CTV News Toronto on Saturday.
“I'm still literally vibrating from the news.”
Health Minister Christine Elliott addressed the news on Friday, saying the government took “urgent action” when it came to the issue
“Providing coverage for Trikafta is one more way our government is building a sustainable, modern and connected health-care system that will expand coverage to new and innovative treatments and provide high-quality health care to patients for years to come,” Elliott said.
Vanstone echoes that statement and praised Elliott’s efforts.
“The fact that Christine Elliot added this drug in a matter of a week, as soon as the ball was in her court, as soon as she had the ability to do that — she’s been a champion all along the way,” she said.
The chief scientific officer of Cystic Fibrosis Canada called Trikafta the "biggest innovation in cystic fibrosis treatment” and said that the drug could be effective in 90 per cent of patients.
In July, Dr. Anne Stephenson, Toronto respirologist and cystic fibrosis physician, told CTV News Toronto that some of her patients have been able to access Trikafta prior to the coverage announcement through a compassionate care program offered by Vertex. She says her patients feel “generally much better” when on the drug.
“We've seen a significant weight gain in patients, a significant reduction in hospitalizations and exacerbations … They don't cough as much anymore or they don't feel short of breath,” Stephenson said.
As far as daily changes in Madi’s life go, Beth is hoping to see improvement.
“I'm hoping for her energy to go up,” she said. “I can already, in this last day or so, see mental changes as she's gaining hope again.”
“Being able to stay out of the hospital and just work towards all the goals that she has for herself without having to worry about repeated hospitalizations is huge,” Vanstone said.
Madi has been hospitalized three times in the last nine months.
“The changes that this is going to make in people's lives, in patients and families lives — it's just so huge.”
With files from The Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca