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TO ALL CANADIAN MPN PATIENTS  (UPDATE March 25, 2025)

We understand that many of you have been waiting for updates regarding the Pegasys drug shortage in Canada. Currently, Pegasys is categorized as a Tier 3 shortage in Canada, which is the most serious level of drug shortage recognized by Health Canada.

We are pleased to announce, along with LLSC and FORUS Therapeutics, that as of March 15, 2025, Health Canada has permitted the exceptional, temporary importation and sale of US-authorized BESREMi (ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft) injection. 

Additional information on BESREMi and the switchover from Pegasys can be found on the FORUS Therapeutics website at www.besremiei.com and official notification details from Health Canada can be found in English here and in French here.

The intent is for patients with ET, PV, or MF, who are currently on PEGASYS, to be moved onto BESREMi by their physician when it becomes necessary, due the shortage of PEGASYS.

Patients receiving BESREMi will initially need to see their physician in-person to be guided through the dosing instructions.Each patient, in consultation with their medical professional, will be given regular monitoring instructions and any side effects need to be reported immediately to their medical professional. In collaboration with Dr. Sirhan, President of the Canadian MPN Group, the equitable distribution of the available Pegasys supply across provinces has occurred, with prioritization for exceptional individuals.

For those currently receiving or about to be prescribed Pegasys with payment through private health insurance, contact the Drug Access Navigator at your treatment centre to assist you in applying for BESREMi.

Many of you have been proactive in contacting your physicians, however if you have not, this is the time to do so.  

We will continue to meet knowing there will be information to be shared as it becomes available. If you have any questions, again, please refer to the above website links and your physician.  If, after that, you still have questions, you may direct them to us, and we will attempt to answer them.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

TO ALL CANADIAN MPN PATIENTS

We understand that many of you have been waiting for updates regarding the Pegasys drug shortage in Canada. We hope the information provided here will help ease some of your stress and anxiety.

Currently, Pegasys is categorized as a Tier 3 shortage in Canada, which is the most serious level of drug shortage recognized by Health Canada.

The Canadian MPN Network, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC), and FORUS Therapeutics have been meeting weekly since mid-December to address this issue. The Canadian MPN group representing the Canadian MPN physicians have been part of the meetings. Discussions have included assessing the distribution of remaining Pegasys supply in Canada for MPN patients who can only tolerate this drug, and exploring the importation of Besremi through the Special Access Program or as an exceptional importation to alleviate the shortage. The intent will be to include MF, PV, and ET patients.

In collaboration with Dr. Sirhan, President of the Canadian MPN Group, we are advocating for a more equitable distribution of the available Pegasys supply across provinces, with prioritization for exceptional individuals. Additionally, physicians will be issuing a statement with recommendations on conserving the current supply by minimizing waste and providing guidance on dose optimization.  If you are in this situation, we encourage you to speak to your doctor and ask them to work with the pharmacist to find Pegasys and initiate a pharmacy-pharmacy transfer.

In terms of Besremi, in December FORUS Therapeutics submitted the Exceptional Importation Compliance forms to Health Canada. Health Canada has reassured us that the submission is being processed expediently and has personally met with all involved groups to provide updates and clarify any uncertainties.

Many of you have been proactive in contacting your physicians, us, and Health Canada to share the human impact of the Pegasys shortage. If you plan to do so, please acknowledge the efforts made so far as we could not have advanced so quickly without the commitment of all the groups.

At this time, the situation is fluid and moving quickly. We cannot provide a definitive date for when Pegasys will be redistributed or Besremi approved. We will continue to meet weekly until this issue is resolved. If you have any questions, please direct them to me, and I will try to answer them. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Warm Regards,