Evidence of meeting #119 for Health in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was procysbi.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Erin Little  President, Liv-A-Little Foundation
Mary Jane Vowles  Board Member, Canada, atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Canada
Caryn Vowles  Board Member, atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Canada
Raj Grewal  Brampton East, Lib.
Catherine Parker  Director General, Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
John Patrick Stewart  Director General, Therapeutic Products Directorate, Department of Health
Karen Reynolds  Executive Director, Office of Pharmaceuticals Management Strategies, Department of Health

10:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

I'm afraid we're going to have to end our questions for today. We're a little beyond our time.

I just wanted clarification on the Cystagon issue. Cystagon was prescribed and was working, and now a new one is also approved. Does that mean that patients can no longer take Cystagon, or do they have a choice?

10:45 a.m.

Director General, Therapeutic Products Directorate, Department of Health

Dr. John Patrick Stewart

The practitioner has the option to submit to the special access program for Cystagon. It is still approved today. It was never not approved. But a practitioner has to present a request that explains the medical rationale for why the available therapy is not right for that patient.

There are currently in the order of about 64 patients receiving Cystagon through the special access program.

10:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

It's still available.

10:50 a.m.

Director General, Therapeutic Products Directorate, Department of Health

Dr. John Patrick Stewart

It's still available. It was never not available.

10:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bill Casey

Thank you very much, everyone, for attending. I'm sorry we had a shortened question period, but it was very effective.

The meeting is adjourned.