Cost covered for CF drug available for more children

Nova Scotia will pay for an expensive cystic fibrosis drug for children ages six to 11.

The province began covering the cost of Trikafta for children older than 12 last fall. In a recent news release, the provincial Department of Health and Wellness announced it would now extend the program to children ages six and older.

Health Canada approved the use of Trikafta to treat children with cystic fibrosis between ages six and 11 on

April 20.

Last month, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health recommended provinces provide coverage for the drug for children under 12.

Trikafta could cost patients as much as $300,000 per year without a program.

The agency also recommended removing some of the qualifying criteria for the drug to make it available to more patients with cystic fibrosis.

The health department said Nova Scotia will also implement these recommendations.

Cystic fibrosis is a rare and progressive genetic disease that affects children and adults. It causes thick mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract and other parts of the body, resulting in persistent lung infections and the loss of lung function.

There is no cure for cystic fibrosis and it's estimated one in every 3,600 children born in Canada has the disease, including 190 in Nova Scotia. Trikafta can be used to treat about 90 per cent of cystic fibrosis patients.

Patients can register for the program through their cystic fibrosis clinic at the IWK.

Nova Scotia will cover the cost of the cystic fibrosis drug Trikafta for children ages six to 11.