An investment in multiple sclerosis (MS) care and research, and coverage for an important MS drug, was announced by Health Minister Theresa Oswald including setting aside $500,000 for clinical trials of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) treatment, if and when scientific evidence demonstrates that trials are safe and appropriate.
“We have always said our government is willing to fund CCSVI clinical trials and today we are taking a step forward by establishing a fund for this research, if and when it is deemed safe and ethical to proceed,” said Oswald. “We are also making significant investments today in MS care and treatment to better support patients based on proven medical evidence.”
The provincial MS Clinic at the Health Sciences Centre is receiving an increase of over $500,000 to meet the growing demand for services. This includes adding an additional neurologist to reduce wait times for new referrals and additional nurse and occupational therapy resources to support the clinic’s mandate to provide comprehensive care to MS patients, Oswald said.
“Over the last three years, our clinic has had a steady increase in referrals for diagnosis and management of MS,” said Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie, director of the MS Clinic at Health Sciences Centre. “This funding will enable us to improve our service to patients, particularly by seeing newly referred patients sooner. Manitoba is taking very positive steps today.”
Tysabri (natalizumab) is an important therapeutic drug used in the treatment of the relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis, the minister said. This drug can improve the quality of life for MS patients by preventing or reducing the frequency of MS relapses and disability progression. Manitoba has added Tysabrito the pharmacare formulary and it is now covered as an additional tool for physicians to utilize as they deem appropriate.
“Manitoba is the first province to commit hard dollars to a potential therapeutic pan-Canadian trial of CCSVI and MS,” said Yves Savoie, president and CEO of the MS Society of Canada. “This, combined with the MS Society of Canada’s earlier commitment of $1 million, will ensure the scientific community will face fewer delays, bringing us to definitive conclusions at a much faster pace.”
The Manitoba government is advocating for a pan-Canadian, multi-site approach to clinical trials of this experimental therapy as opposed to small, isolated and unco-ordinated studies utilizing different methods and deriving conflicting findings. The funding that is being put in reserve will position the province to move quickly if evidence from the diagnostic studies currently underway in Canada and elsewhere support proceeding with the proposed approach, the minister said. A national scientific working group has been established by the federal government to monitor current research and advise if and when clinical trials should proceed.
