We are pleased to announce that, effective August 20th, Vyalev (foslevodopa/foscarbidopa solution) has been added to the British Columbia PharmaCare Formulary. This marks a significant advancement for individuals living with advanced idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) in British Columbia.
Vyalev is a 24-hour subcutaneous infusion therapy specifically designed to help individuals with advanced levodopa-responsive Parkinson’s disease who struggle with severe, debilitating motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. It offers a solution for patients who have not been able to achieve satisfactory control of these symptoms despite optimized treatment with existing Parkinson’s medicinal products.
Previously accessible only to those with private health insurance or private payers, Vyalev is now available under BC PharmaCare, making it more accessible to those in need of this specialized treatment. For more information on Vyalev’s listing, please visit the official BC PharmaCare page.
The combined Vyalev/Duodopa Special Authority (SA) Form is available here for download.
Special Authority Criteria
Vyalev is available under Special Authority for the management of severe advanced idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) when prescribed by a neurologist practicing at a movement disorder clinic, provided all of the following criteria are met:
- The patient has not been able to achieve satisfactory control of severe, debilitating motor fluctuations and hyper-dyskinesia despite optimized treatment with available combinations of PD treatments, including maximally tolerated doses of levodopa, carbidopa, a COMT inhibitor, a dopamine agonist, an MAO-B inhibitor, and amantadine (if not contraindicated).
- The patient experiences severe disability, with at least 25% of the waking day in the off state and/or ongoing, bothersome levodopa-induced dyskinesias, despite frequent dosing of levodopa (at least five doses per day).
- The patient has undergone an adequate trial of maximally tolerated doses of levodopa, with a demonstrated clinical response.
- The patient or caregiver can correctly demonstrate understanding and use of the delivery system.
- The patient does not have severe psychosis or dementia.
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is contraindicated, or the patient is on the DBS waitlist.
Renewal Criteria: Continued benefits from treatment, including significant reduction in off-state duration and/or bothersome levodopa-induced dyskinesias, and improved severity of disability in the off state.
The inclusion of Vyalev in BC PharmaCare is a pivotal step forward in expanding treatment options for Canadians with Parkinson’s disease, particularly for those who require more specialized care. This development brings hope for better outcomes and quality of life for people facing the complexities of advanced Parkinson’s disease.