July 2019: Effective July 1, 2019, denosumab (Prolia®) has been added to the Nova Scotia Formulary for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men who meet the following criteria:
- Have a contraindication to oral bisphosphonates AND
- Are at high risk for fracture* OR have had a fragility fracture or a decline in bone mineral density despite being on other osteoporosis therapies for one year OR are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapies.
*High fracture risk is defined as Moderate risk as defined by CAROC or FRAX plus a prior fragility fracture OR High risk as defined by CAROC or FRAX.
March 2018: Coverage for denosumab (Prolia®) under the following provincial drug benefits plans – Saskatchewan Formulary, New Brunswick Drug Plan Formulary, Ontario Drug Benefits Program and Alberta Health – has been expanded to include men. Coverage is now available for men who meet criteria similar to those for postmenopausal women: high fracture risk, contraindications to oral bisphosphonate use and failure on other osteoporosis therapies. In Saskatchewan, Prolia® is also covered for patients at moderate to high fracture risk who are one of the following: men on androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer or women on aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer. Coverage for men was granted by BC Pharmacare in 2017.
Other Prolia® news: Health Canada has approved a new indication for denosumab (Prolia®): To increase bone mass for the treatment and prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in women and men at high risk of fracture.