Make Pemigatinib Drug Available in Ontario and Across Canada
The Issue
Gofundme link
Pemigatinib is a pill and is a standard of care second-line treatment for patients with cholangiocarcinoma that harbor an FGFR2 fusion in the cancer cells. Although the drug will not cure cancer, it has been shown to extend survival for almost 2 years as compared to 6 months for standard chemotherapy. Approval of this drug in Quebec is moving forward. Unfortunately, there is no approval for this drug in Ontario.
Here is a story of one of the patients impacted by lack of access to this drug. We humbly request that you take a few minutes of your time to read her story:
Noor was excitedly pregnant in September 2022 when she presented to the emergency room at Grand River Hospital with some pain in her abdomen. She was worried the pain might signal a problem with her pregnancy.
An ultrasound done in the emergency room showed multiple liver lesions. A subsequent biopsy in early October of 2022 confirmed that these liver lesions were actually metastatic tumors from a primary cholangiocarcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the bile ducts, and because of the multiple liver tumors, was considered incurable. There would be no chance for surgery to cure her of this cancer. She is the youngest person, to date, that the oncologist has met with this type of cancer.
In October 2022, the oncologist relayed the devastating news to her and her husband. Her main concern was to deliver a healthy baby, but in the setting of multiple liver metastases the doctor needed to start palliative chemotherapy. They chose a chemotherapy regimen that was considered safe during pregnancy, and she delivered her baby successfully in February 2023.
After delivery, she started on standard first-line chemotherapy for her cancer, consisting of chemotherapy drugs called cisplatin and gemcitabine, and an immunotherapy medication called durvalumab. She responded well initially, but now her cancer is growing.
She had testing of her biopsy sample that has shown an FGFR2 fusion, a type of mutation. There exists a relatively new, Health Canada approved drug that targets FGFR2 fusion positive cholangiocarcinomas, called Pemigatinib. Pemigatinib is a pill, and is standard of care second line treatment for patients with cholangiocarcinoma that harbor an FGFR2 fusion in the cancer cells. Although the drug will not cure her cancer, it has been shown to extend survival for almost 2 years as compared to 6 months for standard chemotherapy. Approval of this drug in Quebec is moving forward. Unfortunately, there is no approval for this drug in Ontario.
We are seeking for your help to sign this petition and making an awareness, while we are working with the Ontario government to fund this drug province wide.
9,844
The Issue
Gofundme link
Pemigatinib is a pill and is a standard of care second-line treatment for patients with cholangiocarcinoma that harbor an FGFR2 fusion in the cancer cells. Although the drug will not cure cancer, it has been shown to extend survival for almost 2 years as compared to 6 months for standard chemotherapy. Approval of this drug in Quebec is moving forward. Unfortunately, there is no approval for this drug in Ontario.
Here is a story of one of the patients impacted by lack of access to this drug. We humbly request that you take a few minutes of your time to read her story:
Noor was excitedly pregnant in September 2022 when she presented to the emergency room at Grand River Hospital with some pain in her abdomen. She was worried the pain might signal a problem with her pregnancy.
An ultrasound done in the emergency room showed multiple liver lesions. A subsequent biopsy in early October of 2022 confirmed that these liver lesions were actually metastatic tumors from a primary cholangiocarcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the bile ducts, and because of the multiple liver tumors, was considered incurable. There would be no chance for surgery to cure her of this cancer. She is the youngest person, to date, that the oncologist has met with this type of cancer.
In October 2022, the oncologist relayed the devastating news to her and her husband. Her main concern was to deliver a healthy baby, but in the setting of multiple liver metastases the doctor needed to start palliative chemotherapy. They chose a chemotherapy regimen that was considered safe during pregnancy, and she delivered her baby successfully in February 2023.
After delivery, she started on standard first-line chemotherapy for her cancer, consisting of chemotherapy drugs called cisplatin and gemcitabine, and an immunotherapy medication called durvalumab. She responded well initially, but now her cancer is growing.
She had testing of her biopsy sample that has shown an FGFR2 fusion, a type of mutation. There exists a relatively new, Health Canada approved drug that targets FGFR2 fusion positive cholangiocarcinomas, called Pemigatinib. Pemigatinib is a pill, and is standard of care second line treatment for patients with cholangiocarcinoma that harbor an FGFR2 fusion in the cancer cells. Although the drug will not cure her cancer, it has been shown to extend survival for almost 2 years as compared to 6 months for standard chemotherapy. Approval of this drug in Quebec is moving forward. Unfortunately, there is no approval for this drug in Ontario.
We are seeking for your help to sign this petition and making an awareness, while we are working with the Ontario government to fund this drug province wide.
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on May 23, 2024