Released on May 1, 2019
Effective May 1, Saskatchewan residents now have access to another treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), Ocrevus.Ocrevus is the first MS medication approved to treat early primary progressive MS, and the thirteenth option for patients with relapsing remitting MS, the most common form of the condition.
“Our government is committed to providing Saskatchewan residents with better access to innovative new treatment options,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said. “Ocrevus will be the first drug treatment option approved for the primary progressive form of multiple sclerosis. It offers a treatment option that may slow the progression of multiple sclerosis and improve patients’ quality of life.”
The Saskatchewan Formulary offers a variety of options for MS treatment. Ocrevus is the first that can be used to treat both primary progressive MS and relapsing remitting MS. Last year, the provincial government spent about $17 million on MS medications for eligible patients.
Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system and leads to a progressive loss of motor skills. An estimated 3,700 people in Saskatchewan live with MS.
For more information on the approval process and income-assisted programs, contact the Drug Plan and Extended Benefits Branch at 1-800-667-7581 or 306-787-3317 in Regina.
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For more information, contact:
Colleen Book
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: media@health.gov.sk.ca