Lymphoma Canada applauds the Ontario government for its decision to expand the funding criteria for rituximab (brand name Rituxan) to include people living with relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
Lymphoma Canada applauds the Ontario government for its decision to expand the funding criteria for rituximab (brand name Rituxan) to include people living with relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
Effective May 31, 2013, the Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary was updated to include Rituxan with the following criteria:
- Rituximab is being used in the second line setting for relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, in combination with a fludarabine-based treatment (i.e., the patient is a suitable candidate for fludarabine-based therapy).
- The patient is rituximab naïve (i.e., the patient has never been treated with rituximab for chronic lymphocytic leukemia).
The decision to include rituximab on the provincial drug plan in this setting means that relapsed CLL patients in Ontario will now have the same access to this treatment option as the rest of Canadians.
Should you have any questions about this criteria or any other medications, please speak directly with your physician.
