When Venetoclax is used in Canada.

[Canuck901]

Any comments , this is when they recommend Venetoclax in Canada,

The cost is 100% covered by healthcare

[Elle_V]

Hi Canuck901,

In Ontario Venetoclax is used after Ibrutinib stops working.

Elle

[Canuck901 in reply to Elle_V]

Even for people in their 80s?

[Elle_V in reply to Canuck901]

Don't know about that. This is what my specialist told me, he didn't mention anything about age. I'm 52

[Canuck901 in reply to Elle_V]

Apparently Venetoclax and ibruntnib cost the same

[Canuck901]

Yeah guess we will see , I’m not sure how the elderly will handle ibruntnib vs Venetoclax

[Smakwater]

This is forward progress.

JM

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Canuck, here is a 2018 article that may help you in your search for Canadian health services offerings. A long read, but it seems to end with an openness the use of novel agents for fixed-duration. It does not, however, include the combo of Venetoclax + Obinituzumab as firstline treatment for elderly.

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

As our dear friend CLLCanada used to say, all provinces are different in there usage.

Do you live where you can get US treatment possibilities?

[Canuck901 in reply to cllady01]

You’re right it looks like Canada is a few years behind Europe and the US with Venetoclax. We could call mayo clinic in Rochester my father may need treatment in the next 1-2 months

[naddude in reply to cllady01]

It has been approved by Health Canada. Each province has its own protocol. In BC it is available when CLL is refractory to iBrutinib or other malignancies such as 17 P deletion. Other provinces likely similar. bccancer.bc.ca/chemotherapy...

Also see my link below and article here: cllsociety.org/2016/10/vene...

[Canuck901 in reply to naddude]

Thanks for the post , yes Venetoclax is available in Canada only if the ibruntnib doesn’t work or the patient can’t tolerate the side effects of ibruntnib

[naddude]

Canadian requirements for eligibility: canada.ca/en/health-canada/...

[Canuck901 in reply to naddude]

Wonder if any members here from Canada are on Venetoclax?

[cllady01 Former Volunteer in reply to Canuck901]

I would be surprise if Venetoclax is given as a monotherapy for elderly as a firstline treatment. V in combination with a CD20 antibody like Obinituzumab or Rituxumab is being administered in that situation in U.S.

How old is your father? And, yes, at least check out the possibility for his being treated in Mayo Clinic.

[Canuck901 in reply to cllady01]

He’s 85, when I read about people in their 50 s and 60s struggle with side effects of ibruntnib, I highly doubt someone In their 80s tolerate the drug . You’re correct Venetoclax and obituzumad would be his best option as it’s well tolerated in 75 -85 age range . Our CLL specialist coloborates with the Mayo clinic so hopefully a treatment that is well tolerated will be approved for him

[cllady01 Former Volunteer in reply to Canuck901]

Excellent, I hope the Mayo collaboration works for him/you.

I am 79 and have not been treated. My Dr. has said V+O might be what I get when time comes. However, I do not know for sure. The fact is that over the 19 years I have been diagnosed, there could be some changes in my profile that might make a difference.

I don't know what that might be, but I have learned not to expect everything to be as I have been told it may be. It is in the looking that things are found, and no one has rerun my CLL profile tests (as far as I know) in about 5 years.

Here's hoping you father gets the best treatment available in US or anywhere for that matter.

[Canuck901 in reply to cllady01]

Thank. You for your posts , I plan on getting the best for him and fighting for him to get the best treatment