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Bullish +75

ONTARIO AND QUEBEC EXPAND PUBLIC COVERAGE OF REPATHA(R) FOR ELIGIBLE RECENT ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME PATIENTS

🏛️ Amgen Canada announced that Ontario and Quebec have expanded public reimbursement for Repatha (evolocumab) to cover eligible recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

💊 In Ontario, the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program now covers patients within 52 weeks of an ACS who fail to meet cholesterol targets on standard therapy.

🛡️ Quebec expanded coverage earlier, listing Repatha for ACS on February 4, covering patients up to 24 months post-event who do not meet lipid targets despite statin treatment.

⚕️ Dr. Jean C. Grégoire from the Montreal Heart Institute praised Quebec's move as pioneering and encouraged other provinces to follow suit in managing cardiovascular risk.

💼 Daniel Jun Martinez of Amgen Canada stated that public funding is crucial for accessing effective lipid-lowering therapy early after an acute cardiac event.

⚠️ Statistics show that 42% of Ontario patients with a history of ACS remain above recommended LDL-C thresholds despite treatment, increasing future event risk.

📉 Patients with elevated LDL-C above 1.8 mmol/L after an ACS face nearly a 50% chance of another cardiovascular event within 3.4 years and a significant mortality risk.

👨‍⚕️ Dr. Shaun Goodman from St. Michael's Hospital emphasized that ongoing lipid-lowering treatment is critical for heart health support after hospital discharge.

❤️ Over 60,000 Canadians experience a first heart attack annually, and Repatha addresses risks associated with coronary artery disease where plaque buildup reduces blood flow.

🩺 Dr. Jeffrey Habert noted that expanding access to additional therapies allows clinicians to act sooner to prevent potentially fatal future cardiovascular events.

💉 Repatha works by inhibiting PCSK9, preventing the degradation of LDL receptors and increasing the liver's ability to remove "bad cholesterol" from the bloodstream.

🌍 Globally, Repatha is approved in over 70 countries, has 8.5 million patients, and has been studied in more than 50 clinical trials involving over 57,000 participants.

💉 The medication is administered via a single-use prefilled SureClick autoinjector for ease of use.

⚠️ Contraindications include hypersensitivity to Repatha or any ingredient in the formulation.

⚠️ Hypersensitivity reactions such as rash, urticaria, and angioedema have been reported with use.

🤰 Data on efficacy and safety in pregnant or nursing women is very limited, and the drug should be discontinued if a patient becomes pregnant.

👶 Efficacy and safety have not been established in pediatric patients under 10 years of age for certain genetic conditions like HeFH and HoFH.

📋 Full reimbursement criteria and details are available through the respective provincial formulary websites (ODB for Ontario and RAMQ for Quebec).

Bullish Signals
  • Amgen Canada announced that the Governments of Ontario and Quebec have expanded public reimbursement for Repatha(R) (evolocumab injection) for eligible patients following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
  • In Ontario, updated coverage through the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program now includes eligible patients within 52 weeks of an ACS who are not meeting cholesterol targets despite standard lipid-lowering therapies.
  • Quebec listed Repatha for public coverage on February 4, becoming the first province to do so, with eligibility extending up to 24 months following an ACS.
  • This expansion addresses a significant unmet need, as 42% of Canadian patients with a history of ACS remain above LDL-C guideline thresholds despite treatment.
  • Globally, Repatha has established a strong presence with over 8.5M patients and approval in more than 70 countries.
  • The drug is administered via a single-use prefilled SureClick(R) autoinjector, supporting patient convenience and adherence.
Risk Factors
  • Repatha has reported hypersensitivity reactions including rash, urticaria, and angioedema, requiring discontinuation if serious allergic symptoms occur.
  • There is very limited data on the safety of Repatha in pregnant and nursing women, with no studies conducted specifically for these populations.
  • The effects on breastfed infants cannot be excluded due to a lack of information regarding evolocumab presence in human milk.
  • Efficacy and safety data are limited for HoFH patients aged 10-11 years, and the drug's efficacy has not been established in pediatric patients under 10 years old.
  • Despite public funding expansion, 42% of Canadian ACS patients remain above recommended LDL-C thresholds, suggesting potential gaps in current standard-of-care adherence.
Full Analysis
Amgen Canada announced on April 7, 2026, that the governments of Ontario and Quebec have expanded public reimbursement for Repatha (evolocumab) to include eligible patients following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In Ontario, coverage under the Ontario Drug Benefit program now includes patients within 52 weeks of an ACS event who fail to meet cholesterol targets despite standard lipid-lowering therapies. Quebec had already granted public listing for this indication on February 4, 2026, extending coverage to patients up to 24 months post-ACS with similar efficacy criteria. These expansions aim to address the high risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in the years following a heart attack or acute cardiac event, particularly among patients whose LDL cholesterol levels remain above the recommended threshold of 1.8 mmol/L despite statin therapy. Data highlights that approximately 42% of Canadian patients with a history of ACS remain above guideline-recommended LDL-C targets, and nearly half of those exceeding 1.8 mmol/L experience another cardiovascular event within 3.4 years, with one in four suffering cardiovascular death. Repatha, a PCSK9 inhibitor approved in over 70 countries for more than 8.5 million patients globally, works by increasing the liver's ability to remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. The expanded coverage is supported by medical experts and Amgen Canada executives who emphasize the critical need for early access to effective lipid-lowering therapies after an acute cardiac event to reduce long-term risk.