Five additional publicly-funded provincial drug plans in Canada are adding Titan Pharmaceuticals’ (NASDAQ:TTNP) Probuphine implant to their drug benefits coverage in the fight against the opioid crisis.
The provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia join Alberta and Saskatchewan in making Probuphine available through their drug formularies, with Manitoba to follow on March 2, 2020.
Probuphine also is listed for reimbursement through the Non-Insured Health Benefit and Veteran Affairs Canada drug plans.
Knight Therapeutics (TSX:GUD) distributes Probuphine in Canada. “These listing decisions highlight the value payers and clinicians see in Canada’s first and only subdermal buprenorphine implant for patients living with opioid use disorder,” Jonathan Goodman, CEO of Knight, said in a statement.
“We hope to reach agreements with the remaining provincial public drug programs to ensure this important treatment option is accessible to patients across the country who can benefit on their journey to recovery,” he added.
Probuphine is the only subdermal implant designed to deliver buprenorphine continuously for six months following a single treatment in patients clinically stabilized on no more than 8 mg of sublingual buprenorphine in combination with counseling and psychosocial support. Probuphine must be inserted and removed by a healthcare professional who has successfully completed a training program.
