Government of Quebec offers improved access to diabetes treatments

Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. and Eli Lilly Canada Inc. announced today the Government of Quebec will continue to provide public funding of JARDIANCE^® (empagliflozin), SYNJARDY^® (a single-pill combination of empagliflozin and metformin), and TRAJENTA^® (linagliptin) for adults living with type 2 diabetes. Listed on the Régie de L'assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ) formulary (medicament d'exception) and covered by the Public Prescription Insurance Plan, the addition of codes for JARDIANCE^®, SYNJARDY^® and TRAJENTA^® will provide easier access to important treatments for Quebecers living with type 2 diabetes.¹

"More than 400,000 Quebecers are currently living with type 2 diabetes," says Dr. Jean-Marie Ékoé, Endocrinologist and Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal. "The addition of new coding for these three products on the provincial formulary offers patients easier access to much-needed treatments for type 2 diabetes. Access to these treatments can help ensure patients are protected from the many complications associated with type 2 diabetes, such as reducing the risk of dying from heart disease with the use of JARDIANCE^®."

Diabetes results in many long-term complications, including cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes.^{2, 3, 4} Yet there is a worrisome knowledge deficit among Quebecers with diabetes about the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Research from the 2018 My Heart Matters survey reveals that, although most Quebecers with type 2 diabetes (94 per cent) feel they are knowledgeable about their disease management, almost two-thirds (62 per cent) are unaware their diabetes alone significantly increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke.^5,6

"The addition of new codes for JARDIANCE^®, SYNJARDY^® and TRAJENTA^® to RAMQ is great news for all people with type 2 diabetes in Quebec," says Mr Pierre Blain, CEO of Les Usagers de la Santé du Québec. "The inclusion of codes in RAMQ's list of 'Exceptional Medications' means that patients will have better access to innovative treatments, reducing the administrative burden related to reimbursement."

About JARDIANCE^® (Empagliflozin)
JARDIANCE^® is an oral, once daily, highly selective sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. Empagliflozin was also the first type 2 diabetes medication indicated in Canada (and other parts of the world) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. JARDIANCE^® is not approved for people with type 1 diabetes.^7,8,9

About SYNJARDY^® (Empagliflozin/Metformin Hydrochloride)
SYNJARDY^® is used along with diet and exercise to improve control of blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. SYNJARDY^® is not approved for people with type 1 diabetes.¹⁰

About TRAJENTA^® (Linagliptin)
TRAJENTA^® is a one dose, once daily DPP-4-inhibitor that significantly reduces blood sugar levels for adults with type 2 diabetes. It can be prescribed for adult patients with type 2 diabetes regardless of age, disease duration, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), liver and kidney function. Linagliptin has the lowest kidney excretion rate of all DPP-4 inhibitors. TRAJENTA^® is not approved for people with type 1 diabetes.^11,12

About Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company
In January 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company announced an alliance in diabetes that centres on compounds representing several of the largest diabetes treatment classes. The alliance leverages the strengths of two of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. By joining forces, the companies demonstrate commitment in the care of people with diabetes and stand together to focus on patient needs. Depending on geographies, the companies either co-promote or separately promote the respective molecules each contributed to the alliance.