Cystic Fibrosis Drug Trikafta Becomes Available To Children Ages 6 To 11

Nova Scotia is making Trikafta available to all children ages 6-11

Today, Health Canada approved the use of Trikafta to treat children ages 6-11 with cystic fibrosis. Without this program, Trikafta would cost patients as much as $300,000 per year, but effective today, the province of Nova Scotia will be paying for the drug for this age group.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder that affects the lungs, digestive systems, and other organs in the body. CF affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat, and digestive juices in the body, causing the secretion to become sticky and thick instead of thin and slippery. Instead of acting as lubricants, the secretions plug up tubes, ducts, and passageways in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs.

In Canada, in newborn screening, CF can be diagnosed within the first month of life, before symptoms develop, and having access to the drug to treat it from an early again is vital. CF signs and symptoms vary depending on the severity of the disease. Some people may not experience symptoms until their teenage years or adulthood, while other people’s symptoms may worsen or improve as time passes.

“Today’s news will change the trajectory of the disease and the future for many children and adults in Nova Scotia who live with cystic fibrosis. Last year, Nova Scotia funded the drug for those 12 and older, and today has continued to recognize Trikafta’s extraordinary, transformative value by expanding coverage of Trikafta to include children ages six to 11 years old. We are pleased to see that the restrictive start criterion has also been removed, enabling more people to access the drug. We celebrate this news alongside our CF community in Nova Scotia, who has worked tirelessly for this day.” Kelly Grover, President and CEO, Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Health Canada approved the use of Trikafta to treat children 6-11 on April 20, and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health recommended the drug coverage for this age group to provinces on July 6. This recommendation also included the removal of some qualifying criteria for the drug to make it available to more patients with CF.