Public Drug Program has agreed to fund Revlimid ® (lenalidomide) as a first-line treatment for newly-diagnosed myeloma patients who are not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy (also known as autologous stem cell transplant).

On April 1, 2017, British Columbia also began provincially funding Revlimid ® as a first-line treatment for newly-diagnosed myeloma patients who are not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy. To view eligibility criteria for this indication, please click here.

 In May 2015, a submission for this indication was made to the panCanadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) which resulted in a positive recommendation by the committee in December 2015. Myeloma Canada assisted with this process by including a patient submission to pCODR, sharing the patient and caregiver perspectives and advocating for access for this new indication. From the time the initial submission was accepted to the time provinces began listing this indication on their formularies took an average of 12.9 months (excluding Quebec and PEI).

Revlimid ® as a first-line therapy for newly diagnosed patients who are non-transplant eligible is now listed in the following provinces:
 
Alberta - October 18, 2016
Saskatchewan - October 26, 2016
Yukon - November 8, 2016
Nova Scotia - December 1, 2016
New Brunswick - December 21, 2016
Newfoundland & Labrador - December 31, 2016
Ontario - March 14, 2016
British Columbia - April 1, 2017
Manitoba - April 22, 2017