Tedstehr
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2017
- Messages
- 199
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 08/2017
- Country
- CA
- State
- BC
- City
- New Westminster
I am creating this thread as a discussion on how to get Edavrone in Canada, and what I have discovered.
Here is what I have learned so far.
Mistubushi Tanabe Pharma is the creator of the drug. It is ultimately up to them if they want to sell the drug in Canada. If they do, it sounds like Health Canada would not put up any roadblocks. Unfortunately, we are simply not a big market, so it may not make sense for them to rush it. I have a message in to their US office to ask if Canada is in the works.
So if we cannot get it through the regular channels, we could get it through sites like socialmednetwork.com. But in order to get that way, we need it to be on the approved import list or have a Special Access Permit from Health Canada.
The branch that oversees importation is called the Border Importation Unit (BIU.) I phoned them at 1-800-267-9675. They could not find Edavarone on their list (they do not use brand names like Radicut, only Edavarone.) The agent was very helpful and is going to contact Ottawa to see if this could be added. He will email me. But for now, ordering online is not an option through that method because it would be stopped at the border.
The Special Access Program (SAP) is the next method. The form would be filled out by your doctor/neurologist and Health Canada would review and provide a letter/permit for importation. It sounds like this would not be a problem or take long because of the drug's prior approval in other countries. Once you have this letter, you can import the drug.
I will be making that request to my neurologist later today.
So to review, as of today, an ALS patient needs:
Health Canada Special Access Program authourization
A prescription for the drug from a physician
A big stack of money
The next hurdle is purchasing Radicut or Radicava or Aravon etc. It seems like it would be easy to use a website. My messaging with SocialMedNetwork uncovered that they have to contact Health Canada to see if they can ship the drug here. I know the answer is no based on the BIU information.
If one can get the SAP, one can get their drugs through customs. Cursory research shows a few sources. I did not look at the US because the cost is about $145K USD per year.
The SocialMedNetwork is about $4000 CAD a month, and a Japanese source is about the same. India has a few generics including one called Aravon. Those ones are a fraction of the price. I am waiting for a quote from a reseller there.
I will keep the Canadian members informed on:
News from BIU on Edavarone clearance
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma feedback on their interest in Canada
My luck in receiving a Special Access Permit
The price and availabilty of Aravon
May your progression be slow!
Here is what I have learned so far.
Mistubushi Tanabe Pharma is the creator of the drug. It is ultimately up to them if they want to sell the drug in Canada. If they do, it sounds like Health Canada would not put up any roadblocks. Unfortunately, we are simply not a big market, so it may not make sense for them to rush it. I have a message in to their US office to ask if Canada is in the works.
So if we cannot get it through the regular channels, we could get it through sites like socialmednetwork.com. But in order to get that way, we need it to be on the approved import list or have a Special Access Permit from Health Canada.
The branch that oversees importation is called the Border Importation Unit (BIU.) I phoned them at 1-800-267-9675. They could not find Edavarone on their list (they do not use brand names like Radicut, only Edavarone.) The agent was very helpful and is going to contact Ottawa to see if this could be added. He will email me. But for now, ordering online is not an option through that method because it would be stopped at the border.
The Special Access Program (SAP) is the next method. The form would be filled out by your doctor/neurologist and Health Canada would review and provide a letter/permit for importation. It sounds like this would not be a problem or take long because of the drug's prior approval in other countries. Once you have this letter, you can import the drug.
I will be making that request to my neurologist later today.
So to review, as of today, an ALS patient needs:
Health Canada Special Access Program authourization
A prescription for the drug from a physician
A big stack of money
The next hurdle is purchasing Radicut or Radicava or Aravon etc. It seems like it would be easy to use a website. My messaging with SocialMedNetwork uncovered that they have to contact Health Canada to see if they can ship the drug here. I know the answer is no based on the BIU information.
If one can get the SAP, one can get their drugs through customs. Cursory research shows a few sources. I did not look at the US because the cost is about $145K USD per year.
The SocialMedNetwork is about $4000 CAD a month, and a Japanese source is about the same. India has a few generics including one called Aravon. Those ones are a fraction of the price. I am waiting for a quote from a reseller there.
I will keep the Canadian members informed on:
News from BIU on Edavarone clearance
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma feedback on their interest in Canada
My luck in receiving a Special Access Permit
The price and availabilty of Aravon
May your progression be slow!