Pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) Update
Pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) Update We have been accepted as a Patient Advocacy Group by pCODR. CLL PAG is pleased to report that we have made a submission to pCODR in support of Lundbeck Canada’s application for Bendamustine for Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (first line and relapse/refractory) for whom fludarabine-based therapy is not appropriate. Thank you to those who participated in the Patient Experience Survey; your responses have been used in the submission.Contact Deborah at cllpag.canada@gmail.com if you would like more information
May 8th, 2012
A Thank You!
CLL PAG wishes to thank all who have requested membership in CLL PAG. We now have members in most provinces and many supporting members in the US. Our next advocacy issue is in Ontario, the only Canadian province/territory where Rituxan is not available for second line treatment of CLL– stay tuned.
May 8th, 2012
Canadian CLL Researcher Awarded Grant
Dr. Spencer Gibson, M.D. of the University of Manitoba has received a grant from the CLL Global Research Foundation.Dr. Gibson's research involves the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib, currently used in treating lung cancer.
His research will assess whether the drug gefitinib can selectively kill ZAP-70 expressing CLL cells by inhibiting ZAP-70 function. CLL cells that contain the ZAP-70 protein tend to be closely associated with aggressive disease, for which there is currently no targeted treatment.
The grant of $100,000 is for one year of research funding with the possibility of a second year.
Link Here for More Info
CLL ~ Invisible Cancer
Matt Galloway of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) spoke with Dr. Rena Buckstein, about chronic lymphocytic leukemia. She heads the Hematology Site Group at Sunnybrook Hospital's Odette Cancer Centre, Toronto Canada. This follows the untimely death of Canadian comedian Roger Abbott, who had CLL for 14 years.
Podcast (about 8 minutes): CBC Podcast ~ Invisible Cancer
FC + Rituxan
Rituxan (rituximab), utilisé conjointement avec la Fludarabine et la Cyclophosphamide (FCR) est le premier traitement à montrer une amélioration de la survie globale chez des patients atteints de leucémie lymphoïde chronique, jamais traités auparavant. LienRituxan (rituximab) when added to fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) is the first treatment to show improvement overall survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, never previously treated. Link
Rituxan Funding Situation in Canada ~ November 2009
View Here
Fludarabine and Campath Funding in Canada
Click Here to ViewGenzyme Canada Medication Assistance Program
The maker of Campath and Oral Fludarabine, Genzyme Canada, has developed a program to help people find financial assistance to pay for their medication. This program is run in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network.
For more information and an application form to Genzyme Canada in PDF format: CLICK HERE
