The Isaac Foundation | The Isaac Foundation

17 Dec 2015

Sticky Post By mcfadyena Posted in Advocacy, Morquio, MPS IVA Permalink

MINISTER ORDERS REVIEW OF DECISION TO DENY LIFE-SAVING DRUG

Sticky Post By mcfadyena On 17 December, 2015

Treatment Required Immediately For Ailing New Brunswick Boy; Family Elated With News

“It doesn’t feel real. We have hope again for our son.” – Carolle Mazzerole, Morgan’s Mom

The Minister of Health in New Brunswick has ordered a full review of his recent decision to deny access to a life-saving medication to 10-year-old Morgan Doucet. Morgan suffers from MPS IVA (Morquio Syndrome) and requires the life-saving treatment immediately in order to halt further progression of his devastating disease. The family was informed in October that Morgan’s application for the life-saving drug was denied and immediately asked how they could appeal the decision. Health Minister Victor Boudreau informed the Canadian Press this evening of the new review.

Andrew McFadyen, Executive Director of The Isaac Foundation, an advocacy, research, and family support organization that specializes in MPS related diseases, was happy with the news. “We are very pleased with this development – it’s incredible news for the family. For Morgan, I truly hope that this review takes a serious look at the vast amount of available evidence that exists both in this country and internationally, and I’m calling on the Minister to ensure the review is fair, transparent, and that the opinions and recommendations of multiple experts that deal with this disease and treatment first-hand are considered.”

McFadyen applauds the developments in New Brunswick and the willingness of Minister Boudreau to seek another opinion. The Isaac Foundation has requested that a panel of 3 or 5 international and Canadian MPS experts conduct the review. “This way, we have the opportunity for rigorous debate about the drug and its efficacy, and any decision made will always be a majority ruling.”

Jamie Myrah, Executive Director of the Canadian MPS Society, also hopes the new review will be thorough and transparent, free from Ministry bias and interference. “The Canadian MPS Society also calls on the Minister to ensure a fair, objective, and transparent review of Morgan’s application for treatment. It is our hope that the true experts – experts from around the world that deal with this disease, experts that treat this disease on a daily basis – have an opportunity to see the baseline data and weigh in on the merits of providing therapy for Morgan. We also feel like it’s imperative that the reviewers are identified to our organizations, again so we can be sure the process is as transparent as possible. We want to make certain they are using the true experts to look at this, unlike the initial review that took place.”

Morgan’s mother, Carolle Mazzerole, was elated by the developments. “We’re thrilled. It doesn’t feel real. We have hope again for our son. I pray that the new review is done quickly and is fair for our Morgan. The last review took a year for us to receive a decision and Morgan can’t wait much longer. I really want to say thank you to Minister Boudreau for revisiting this decision, and a sincere thanks to our MLA, Jake Stewart, for his incredible support for our family.”

# # #

For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Andrew McFadyen, please call Andrew at 613-328-9136 or email Andrew at mcfadyena@me.com. The Isaac Foundation can also arrange interviews with parents of patients currently receiving this treatment in Canada.

17 Dec 2015

Sticky Post By mcfadyena Posted in Advocacy, Media, Morquio, MPS IVA Permalink

HEALTH MINISTER REFUSES TO HEAR EXPERT OPINION REGARDING DENIAL OF LIFE-SAVING MEDICATION FOR MORGAN DOUCET

Sticky Post By mcfadyena On 17 December, 2015

Minister Refuses To Allow Renowned MPS Expert To Join Family Meeting; Doucet’s Family In Fredericton to Meet with Child And Youth Advocate Thursday

The family of ailing 10-year-old Morgan Doucet has cancelled a scheduled meeting with the Minister of Health in New Brunswick after the Minister refused to allow an internationally renowned expert to participate in the discussions. Doucet’s case has made headlines throughout the Province after the Minister of Health denied access to the life-saving drug that he requires. Morgan suffers from MPS IVA (Morquio Syndrome) and requires the life-saving treatment immediately in order to halt further progression of his devastating disease. Without access to therapy, Morgan faces a long and painful decline and death at a young age.

Andrew McFadyen, Executive Director of The Isaac Foundation, an advocacy, research, and family support organization that specializes in MPS related diseases, has slammed the Minister for his refusal to meet with one of the world’s foremost experts in MPS and related diseases. “It’s unconscionable to me that Minister Boudreau would refuse to allow this expert to participate in the meeting he had scheduled with Morgan’s family. Unbelievable, really. He has denied Morgan access to the life-saving medication he needs, hasn’t allowed his family an avenue to appeal his ruling, and then refuses to hear from a true expert that deals with this disease on a daily basis – an expert who is internationally recognized as the best in his field. It leads me to believe that he’s afraid to be proven wrong on such an important issue, which is deplorable because a life hangs in the balance. Pride and politics should never play a role in the health and well being of a child, and it appears that’s exactly what is happening with Morgan Doucet with respect to the Minister’s steadfast refusal to hear more evidence on this matter.”

Doucet’s parents will be joined McFadyen at the provincial legislature in Fredericton on Thursday, December 17 to watch the morning legislative session and to meet with the province’s Child and Youth Advocate, Norman Bosse. PC Jake Stewart, the Doucets’ MLA, will join the family during that meeting.

Bosse has agreed to look into the process used to deny access to Morgan’s medication, a process that McFadyen says was destined to return a negative decision all along. He notes that after an initial application for treatment in October of 2014, the file was finally sent to Ontario for review by one individual alone, with no opportunity allowed for a rigorous discussion with the rest of the MPS Experts throughout Canada and Internationally –experts that deal with the disease on a daily basis and some of whom have seen first-hand how well other children receiving the treatment are doing.

“The Minister and the Ministry’s only comment on this case is that the drug didn’t get a positive review from the Common Drug Review (CDR). What he doesn’t say is that all drugs used to treat other MPS diseases have received negative CDR reviews and the Province pays for access to all. Right now, Morgan is the only MPS patient in the province who has been denied this coverage, and that’s disgraceful.”

Health Canada approved the treatment Morgan requires in July of 2014 and it has been recommended for use in patients by the Canadian Expert Opinion on Morquio Syndrome. In addition, the International Expert Opinion on Morquio Syndrome considers the treatment their gold standard of care for patients throughout the world. It is reimbursed for patients in Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec.

In Canada, there are 33 patients receiving the treatment. According to McFadyen, all of them are doing exceptionally well. “These patients have seen dramatic improvements and have had their disease progression either halted or dramatically slowed down. Morgan deserves the same chance at life that those other patients have. This is Canada – where equal access to our health care system isn’t a privilege, it’s a right.It’s callous and cruel that the Minister of Health is forcing this child and this family to enter a palliative approach to his disease when we know he can be helped. We know he can be saved.”

Jamie Myrah, Executive Director of the Canadian MPS Society, a national patient association that serves those affected by MPS and related lysosomal diseases, says Doucet’s case has angered and galvanized the people of New Brunswick. Doucet was front-page news on Monday, and has been featured by numerous provincial and national media outlets since his treatment was denied. The Isaac Foundation’s online posts about Morgan have received over 100,000 visitors during that time, and hundreds of emails have been sent to the Premier and the Minister of Health supporting access for Morgan. McFadyen has posted an online form that the people can fill out and all messages get delivered instantly to the Minister’s and the Premier’s email inbox.

“People in New Brunswick and across Canada are understandably upset about this decision and they want their voices heard,” says Myrah.

McFadyen finishes, “We won’t accept the Minister making medical decisions and overruling and contradicting medical experts, clinicians, and researchers regarding best practice and treatment for Morgan Doucet. If he won’t look at the clinical expert opinion, the patient reported outcomes or the peer-reviewed published journals, then who will he listen to?”

Both The Isaac Foundation and The MPS Society are renewing their call for Health Minister Victor Boudreau and Premier Brian Gallant to take action, review and reverse their initial decision, and to ensure that treatment begins immediately for Morgan Doucet.

# # #

The Doucet Family and The Isaac Foundation will be available for interested media at the Legislature on Thursday, December 17. To schedule an interview with Andrew McFadyen, please call Andrew at 613-328-9136 or email Andrew at mcfadyena@me.com. The Isaac Foundation can also arrange interviews with parents of patients currently receiving this treatment in Canada.

BACKROUNDER

While not a cure for Morquio Syndrome, the necessary Enzyme-Replacement Therapy (ERT) is designed to provide patients with a synthetic version of the enzyme they are lacking by infusing small doses into the patient’s bloodstream on a weekly basis. The treatment slows down or halts progression of the disease in patients, improves endurance, walking distance, breathing problems, and provides other benefits to sufferers that dramatically improve their quality and length of life. International experts and a Canadian Panel of Genetics Specialists have all recommended Vimizim as the front-line treatment for Morquio Syndrome. Vimizim was approved by Health Canada in July 2014, and is currently being reimbursed for use by patients in Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. Recently, the National Institute for

Photo Source: CBC.ca

15 Dec 2015

Sticky Post By mcfadyena Posted in Advocacy, Morquio, MPS IVA, Uncategorized Permalink

Tentative Meeting Scheduled

Sticky Post By mcfadyena On 15 December, 2015

Hi Everyone,

As promised, I’m back to provide another update. After speaking with the Ministry this afternoon, the Minister has set aside some time to meet with The Isaac Foundation and Morgan’s parents. Things are tentatively set for Thursday. However, that meeting will only be taking place if the Minister agrees to have Dr. Paul Harmatz on the line from Oakland Children’s Hospital and if Morgan’s MLA, Jake Stewart, can join us.

The rationale behind having both Dr. Harmatz and Mr. Stewart join us is simple – Dr. Harmatz is a world renowned expert in the field of MPS and this treatment and it’s important for him to be on hand to answer any questions that might be raised in the meeting and to try to shed some clarity on what this treatment can and can’t do for patients. If the Minister doesn’t want Dr. Harmatz present, it indicates to us that the Minister doesn’t want to seek information and advice from the people that are the best in their field. If that’s the case, we see no reason to meet. We want to hear from the best, and we are hopeful Minster Boudreau does as well.

And Jake Stewart? Well, he’s been the support for this family since the very start of this process, someone who’s been kind and caring when they need it the most. The compassion he’s shown for Morgan and his family has been wonderful, and his support during such a meeting will be important.

I’ve made the request to the Ministry and await their reply. So, for now we have a tentative meeting. Hopefully we can get things sorted out soon.

In the meantime, if you haven’t had the opportunity to send Premier Gallant or Minister Boudreau your thoughts on this situation, you can use the form below. Your message will land directly in their in-boxes, and your voice can be added to those that are speaking out in support of Morgan, of the life-saving treatment he needs, and for doing what’s right in the Province of New Brunswick.

Thanks, as always, for your support.

A.

#Hope4Morgan – Send Premier Gallant and Minister Boudreau An Email!

Are you concerned with the recent decision by the Gallant Government to deny Morgan Doucet the life-saving treatment he needs? We want the tens of thousands of people who have read Morgan’s story to have their voice heard. Please take a moment to send your thoughts and concerns to Premier Gallant and to Minister Boudreau. The form below will ensure your message will land directly in their in-box. Please be respectful in your messages and thank you for your continued support as we work to ensure our kids get the help they need.

15 Dec 2015

Sticky Post By mcfadyena Posted in Blog Postings Permalink

Short Update – Talking With The Minister’s Office Later Today

Sticky Post By mcfadyena On 15 December, 2015

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you all know a few things. First off, thank you for the incredible support you are showing Morgan and his family. Thus far, we’ve had over 80,000 people (more than 10% of the population of New Brunswick!) viewed Morgan’s story online, shared it with your family and friends, and commented – both online and via email – to the Minister and Premier. Emails continue to pour in and your participation and efforts to have your voices heard is heartwarming and appreciated.

I spoke with the Minister’s Office today and we are set to talk a bit later this afternoon. I will continue to push for a fair, open, and transparent review of Morgan’s file, a review conducted by the real experts that deal front line with this disease. Anything less is unacceptable, cruel, and unfair for Morgan. I’ll log online to update after that conversation takes place.

In the meantime, keep those comments rolling in, keep sharing Morgan’s story, and keep holding your government to account.

Till our next update…

15 Dec 2015

Sticky Post By mcfadyena Posted in Blog Postings Permalink

Short Update – Talking With The Minister's Office Later Today

Sticky Post By mcfadyena On 15 December, 2015

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you all know a few things. First off, thank you for the incredible support you are showing Morgan and his family. Thus far, we’ve had over 80,000 people (more than 10% of the population of New Brunswick!) viewed Morgan’s story online, shared it with your family and friends, and commented – both online and via email – to the Minister and Premier. Emails continue to pour in and your participation and efforts to have your voices heard is heartwarming and appreciated.

I spoke with the Minister’s Office today and we are set to talk a bit later this afternoon. I will continue to push for a fair, open, and transparent review of Morgan’s file, a review conducted by the real experts that deal front line with this disease. Anything less is unacceptable, cruel, and unfair for Morgan. I’ll log online to update after that conversation takes place.

In the meantime, keep those comments rolling in, keep sharing Morgan’s story, and keep holding your government to account.

Till our next update…

13 Dec 2015

Sticky Post By mcfadyena Posted in Advocacy, Blog Postings, Morquio, MPS IVA, Newspaper Permalink

Mom pleads with Liberal government to allow potentially life-saving treatment for child

Sticky Post By mcfadyena On 13 December, 2015

CHRIS MORRIS Legislature Bureau

December 13, 2015

Carolle Mazerolle with her 10-year-old son Morgan Doucet. Doucet sufferers from a rare disease called Morquio Syndrome and is believed to be one of only 33 people in the country and the only known case in New Brunswick.

Photo: Jeremy Trevors/ Miramichi Leader

Carolle Mazerolle has been battling medical bureaucracies to get help for her son, Morgan, almost since he was born 10 years ago.

Now she has another fight on her hands, this time to get a new treatment that could finally help her beloved and brave little boy enjoy not only a pain-free life but also, possibly, a longer life.

“I want to give him this drug as quickly as possible,” Mazerolle said in an interview, sending a message directly to Health Minister Victor Boudreau.

“I want them (New Brunswick health officials) to make another decision on this. Morgan needs this right away. He gets worse by the minute and every moment he waits, his body is deteriorating. I don’t want to wait another year, not even another day. Please, just make the right decision.”

Mazerolle fights tears as she speaks. It has been a long, difficult time for Carolle, her partner Glen Doucet, Morgan, and other members of the family in Baie-Sainte-Anne as they cope with Morgan’s rare genetic condition called Morquio Syndrome.

The family finally felt hope last year after it was announced that Health Canada had approved a treatment, an enzyme replacement therapy, that has been shown to slow down or halt progression of the disease in patients.

Morgan is the only known person in New Brunswick with Morquio Syndrome and Carolle and Glen quickly applied to have the treatment covered for their son. After about a year, their request was denied in October, and no avenue for appeal was offered.

It has been a roller-coaster ride for the family.

“We all were all so hopeful when the treatment was approved,” Carolle said. “We thought everything is going to fall into place and Morgan will have a better life and live a lot longer. Then they refused us. I still have trouble believing it”

The treatment is expensive.

Andrew McFadyen, executive director of The Isaac Foundation, an Ontario-based advocacy organization that specializes in diseases like the one afflicting Morgan, says the list price for the enzyme replacement drug is about $300,000 per year.

However, McFadyen said a lower cost likely could be negotiated with the drug developer once Morgen gets the go-ahead for treatment from the province.

McFadyen was in Fredericton last week to meet with Boudreau and apply pressure to give Morgan a second chance at the treatment. He did not get the reassurances he was seeking, although he said Boudreau did agree to look at the case.

“New Brunswick health officials are telling this family to enter a long-term palliative approach to care for their child instead of ensuring that disease progression is halted now,” he said.

“They are allowing him to die instead of taking leadership and doing the responsible and ethical thing by providing him with the help he needs. It’s shameful, disgraceful.”

The Health Department says it is bound by privacy rules and cannot speak about Morgan’s case. Jake Stewart, opposition Tory MLA for Southwest Miramichi-Bay-du-Vin, has raised the issue in the legislature, appealing to the Liberal government to put politics aside and “just help this child.”

Carolle, Glen and McFadyen are planning to travel to Fredericton on Wednesday to press their case to have the treatment approved. Morgan may be there as well, although it is not certain.

Carolle said she knew something was wrong with Morgan shortly after he was born, although most children with the syndrome do not have it confirmed until four or five years of age.

Her baby seemed in pain right from the start and she remembers spending the first four months of his life sleeping on her back, holding him.

Carolle kept telling doctors something was wrong and they kept telling her he was just a bit slow and would be fine. Finally, at 15 months of age, a doctor in Saint John took x-rays and discovered bones in Morgan’s neck were broken.

Now in Grade 5, Morgan is fully developed intellectually and socially, and has lots of friends. But he has never walked, can stand only for a few seconds holding onto something, has almost constant headaches and is often sick to his stomach.

The syndrome has deformed his body, but not his spirit, Carolle says.

“This is a small community and everyone knows him,” she said. “The other kids are all great with him.”

McFadyen said sufferers of Morquio Syndrome lack an enzyme in their blood that breaks down cellular waste in the body. The waste builds up in the bones, tissues, organs, and muscles and leads to such symptoms as heart and airway disease, corneal clouding, stiffening of the joints, shortened stature, and premature death.

He said the treatment being denied to Morgan dramatically slows or halts the disease, improves pulmonary function, walking ability, and gives patients the chance at a normal life.

There are 33 cases of Morquio in Canada. The treatment currently is funded in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.

Source: https://www.telegraphjournal.com/telegraph-journal/story/45053995/mom-pleads-with-liberal

10 Dec 2015

Sticky Post By mcfadyena Posted in Advocacy, Blog Postings, Morquio, MPS IVA Permalink

LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT DENIED FOR AILING NEW BRUNSWICK CHILD

Sticky Post By mcfadyena On 10 December, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PDF Version – www.theisaacfoundation.com/nbtreatment.pdf

Ministry of Health Denies Funding; Premier and Minister of Health Refuse to Allow Appeal; Treatment Already Being Funded in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec

The New Brunswick Ministry of Health has denied funding for a life-saving treatment required by an ailing 10-year old Baie-Sainte-Anne child. Morgan Doucet suffers from MPS IVA (Morquio Syndrome) and requires the life-saving treatment immediately in order to halt further progression of his devastating disease. The Isaac Foundation and The Canadian Society for Mucopolysaccharide & Related Diseases (Canadian MPS Society) are calling on Health Minister Victor Boudreau and Premier Brian Gallant to take action, review and reverse the decision, and ensure that treatment begins immediately.

Without access to therapy, Morgan faces a long and painful decline and death at a young age. The Isaac Foundation met with Minister Boudreau on December 9, 2015 but the Minister declined to make any commitments regarding an appeal for Morgan. The family has publicly given permission for the Minister to comment on Morgan’s application and condition so that the Minister can be forthcoming with the public about why he isn’t allowing an appeal.

Sufferers of Morquio Syndrome lack an enzyme in their blood that breaks down cellular waste in the body. This waste builds up in the bones, tissues, organs, and muscles of affected individuals and leads to many devastating symptoms including heart and airway disease, corneal clouding, stiffening of the joints, shortened stature, and premature death. The treatment being denied to Morgan dramatically slows or halts the disease, improves pulmonary function, walking ability, and gives patients the chance at a normal life. It is currently being funded in Saskatchewan and for patients in Ontario and Quebec.

Andrew McFadyen, Executive Director of The Isaac Foundation, an advocacy, research, and family support organization that specializes in MPS related diseases, is disappointed by the decision and is urging an immediate reversal to save the Morgan’s life. “The decision to deny this life-saving treatment for Morgan is outrageous, heartless, and cruel. This therapy has been recommended by a Canadian Expert Panel comprising of MPS experts from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec, and International Treatment Guidelines for Morquio Syndrome highlight this treatment as the gold standard of care for affected patients. To prevent this child from receiving the care he requires is needless and callous, and shows a reckless disregard for what our Canadian Health Care System purports to stand for.” He adds, “The Ministry is telling this family to enter a long-term palliative approach to care for their child instead of ensuring that disease progression is halted now. They are allowing him to die, instead of taking leadership and doing the responsible and ethical thing by providing him with the help he needs. It’s shamefully disgraceful.”

McFadyen is puzzled as to why access for treatment was denied, especially considering the weight of available evidence and Canadian and International expert guidelines urging it’s approval. In addition, the Province already provides access to patients suffering from every other form of MPS requiring the same kind of treatment. He expects it comes down to financial considerations due to the high cost of the drug, coupled with a recent negative recommendation from the Common Drug Review (CDR), that has clouded the judgment of decision makers at the Ministry.

Jamie Myrah, Executive Director of the Canadian MPS Society, a national patient association that serves those affected by MPS and related lysosomal diseases, notes that there were serious issues with the initial review that denied Morgan the treatment he needs. “The initial review was done by a reviewer who has never used this treatment, using the flawed CDR report as the basis for his decision. This recently happened with three children in Saskatchewan. However, when the Minister realized the review for those files was flawed, he ordered a new review using real experts dealing with this disease and this treatment. He chose International experts to take a second look at the files and those experts came back with a decision to treat. We feel the Premier should also take a second look at Morgan’s file. We’re not asking for much – just a second look at this decision. Morgan’s life depends on it and I would hope the Premier and the Minister of Health would want to ensure they get things right.”

McFadyen also questions the process used by the New Brunswick Ministry of Health in making their decision, noting the family first requested access in October of 2014. He notes that in March of 2015, the file was finally sent to Ontario for review by one individual alone, with no opportunity allowed for a rigorous discussion with the rest of the MPS Experts throughout Canada –experts that deal with the disease on a daily basis and some of whom have seen first-hand how well other children receiving the treatment are doing. “The only thing stopping this child from beginning his treatment is the lack of funding by the Province. It’s incredulous to me that one individual gets to pick and choose who does or doesn’t get access to the life-saving treatment they need, especially considering the fact that a precedent has been set with other children in this province and in other provinces across the country receiving access to similar medications. One individual is making life-altering decisions on behalf of this Ministry and the people of New Brunswick, and it’s led to Morgan’s life being left in peril.”

Myrah adds, “We know this treatment works and the Province knows that ERT’s for MPS diseases are currently the only chance patients have of living longer, healthier lives. We recognize that the CDR gave this treatment a negative recommendation, but it did so for all the other MPS ERT’s as well; yet every province in the country – including New Brunswick – still ensures access for those patients. While ERT treatment for MPS is expensive, it is often just as expensive – if not more expensive – to not treat these kids. It simply doesn’t make sense to make these children suffer a slow and painful decline when we could stop or dramatically slow the progression of the disease with the treatment being requested.”

Both Myrah and McFadyen are hopeful that a review and a reversal of this decision can take place immediately, and they are urging the Health Minister and the Premier to take action now. Says McFadyen, “Brian Gallant’s government has the opportunity to do the right thing and ensure that Morgan receives the treatment he so desperately needs. It’s the role of government to protect and ensure fair and equitable access to Health Care for all people in New Brunswick, regardless of whether they are impacted by a rare disease or not. This family needs to concentrate on treating their children’s disease, not wading through a bureaucratic maze of paperwork and pinning their hopes on the appeals process or the recommendation of one person alone –a person who has never used this therapy or seen it’s effectiveness – at the Ministry of Health. We strongly call on this government to take action and save the life of this little boy now. He can’t afford to wait.”

# # #

For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Andrew McFadyen, please call Andrew at 613-328-9136 or email Andrew at mcfadyena@me.com. The Isaac Foundation can also arrange interviews with parents of patients currently receiving this treatment in Canada.

BACKROUNDER

While not a cure for Morquio Syndrome, the necessary Enzyme-Replacement Therapy (ERT) is designed to provide patients with a synthetic version of the enzyme they are lacking by infusing small doses into the patient’s bloodstream on a weekly basis. The treatment slows down or halts progression of the disease in patients, improves endurance, walking distance, breathing problems, and provides other benefits to sufferers that dramatically improve their quality and length of life. International experts and a Canadian Panel of Genetics Specialists have all recommended Vimizim as the front-line treatment for Morquio Syndrome. Vimizim was approved by Health Canada in July 2014, and is currently being reimbursed for use by patients in Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. Recently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended reimbursement for all 88 patients suffering from Morquio Syndrome throughout the UK.

09 Dec 2015

Sticky Post By mcfadyena Posted in Blog Postings, Media, Morquio, MPS IVA, Radio Permalink

Baie Sainte Anne Boy Needs Drug To Manage Rare Disease

Sticky Post By mcfadyena On 9 December, 2015

December 9, 2015

A young Baie Sainte Anne boy’s plight made it to the floor of the provincial legislature this morning.

Morgan Doucet, 10, is currently the only person in New Brunswick suffering from morquio syndrome.

On Wednesday morning, Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin MLA Jake Stewart called on the province reverse its decision not to fund a Health Canada approved treatment for Doucet’s illness.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, morquio syndrome is an inherited disease of metabolism in which the body is missing or doesn’t have enough of a substance needed to break down long chains of sugar molecules called glycosaminoglycans (formerly called mucopolysaccharides).

Symptoms include:

– Abnormal development of bones, including the spine
– Bell-shaped chest with ribs flared out at the bottom
– Coarse facial features
– Hypermobile joints
– Knock-knees
– Large head (macrocephaly)
-Short stature with a particularly short trunk
– Widely spaced teeth

While Stewart didn’t name the treatment in question, the only Health Canada approved drug for the disease is Vimizim, which was approved last year.

Annual treatment can cost upwards of $100,000.

Stewart said Doucet needs treatment.

“Recently access to this lifesaving medication for Morgan Doucet was denied by the minister of health and the department, even though it is the gold standard of care as recommended by the international treatment guidelines, has been recommended by the Canadian Expert Panel on Morquio Syndrome and has been prescribed by Morgan’s genetic specialist at the IWK ” Stewart said in the legislature.

He accused the government of overruling the experts and said there is no process for appeal.

Health Minister Victor Boudreau said he could not discuss the specifics of the case on the floor of the legislature, citing privacy rules, but said their is a process in place for situations like Doucet’s.

“Because we do not have the level of expertise on these rare diseases and rare drugs here in the province of New Brunswick we rely on the province of Ontario and this is a process that was put in place by the member for Rothesay, the former minister,” Boudreau said.

He explained that the file is sent to experts in Ontario and they get back to the New Brunswick government with a recommendation.
But Stewart wasn’t happy with that reply.

“The drug that Morgan requires is currently being funded by Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec and in most developed countries. Morgan’s application was denied by a single reviewer from Ontario, a reviewer who no longer practices medicine and has never used this treatment,” Stewart said.

He also said Saskatchewan found flaws with the review process and with that reviewer. He said that province now deals directly with the experts on specific diseases.

“I ask the minister of health and the premier, will they show the same leadership and do the right thing by ordering a new review of Morgan’s file and provide immediate access to this life saving treatment while that review is taking place?” Stewart asked.

Boudreau said these are very tough situations.

“Everybody in this legislature has a heart and understands that these decisions are difficult to make,” Boudreau said.

“I can tell you that across the country, and in New Brunswick, some cases get approved, some cases don’t. We follow a process, Mr. Speaker. I am not an expert, and we don’t even have those experts within our department or within our province,” he added, saying the process was followed.

09 Dec 2015

Sticky Post By mcfadyena Posted in Advocacy, Morquio, MPS IVA, Uncategorized Permalink

This Is Not OK – When Answers Aren’t Really Answers

Sticky Post By mcfadyena On 9 December, 2015

To me, this is the most difficult part to accept. No appeal? No opportunity to ensure the decision was rendered correctly before we condemn this little boy to a life of pain and suffering…to death? Prisoners on death row – prisoners there for the heinous crimes they have committed – have multiple opportunities to appeal their decided fate. Before that, their fates get decided by collections of people, people who have the opportunity to hear all viewpoints, all expert testimony, everything. They exhaust all avenues in making death sentence rulings, and then we allow those prisoners the opportunity to appeal and fight their fate. Not so for this little boy, it appears, and that will never be OK with me. ~Andrew McFadyen, Executive Director, The Isaac Foundation

Late last night, I boarded a plane to Fredericton with hopes of meeting with the Minister of Health, Victor Boudreau, about 10-year-old Morgan Doucet. Recently, the Minister denied access to the life-saving medication that Morgan needs immediate access to, thereby condemning Morgan to a life of pain and suffering, and immediately signalling that Morgan’s care should enter a palliative approach to his disease.

This is NOT OK, for a whole host of reasons, not least of which is that we CAN help Morgan, we can stop his disease progression, and we can do it quickly with access to the treatment he needs.

This is not OK because the treatment Morgan needs has been approved by Health Canada for almost 2 years now, and it’s being used to help save the lives of 33 patients throughout the country, while being fully reimbursed for use in patients in Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. It’s also funded in most developed countries throughout the world – including the UK – where they recently took steps to fund every patient that needs access immediately.

This is not OK because Morgan’s review was done by one person alone, a person who has never used this treatment before and a person who isn’t a practicing physician anymore. He’s a bureaucrat, paid by the government of Ontario to review files and render life and death decisions about kids – life and death decisions that come without rigorous debate and input from the true experts in the field.

This is not OK because the overwhelming evidence and recommendations by those true experts in the field all conclude that this drug works and should be given to patients immediately in order to stave off the ravages of the disease. It has been prescribed by Morgan’s genetics specialist, it has been recommended for use in patients by the Canadian Expert Opinion on Morquio Syndrome and it is recommended as the front line treatment for Morquio Syndrome in the International Treatment Guidelines for Morquio Syndrome. In fact, it’s considered the gold standard of care for patients suffering from this disease, and it’s inhumane and unethical to deny patients the help they need when they need it most.

This is not OK because we are allowing those bureaucrats and politicians to overrule and contradict medical experts, clinicians, and researchers, regarding best practice and treatment for this little boy suffering from this devastating disease. In essence, the Minister and his bureaucrats are making clinical decisions where they are not qualified to do so.

And this is not OK because denying life-saving treatment to dying kids is not what our Health Care System is supposed to stand for, it’s not the principles that our country and our Medicare Act were founded on, and it’s not who we want to be as a Canadian People.

With all this on my mind, I took the late flight here for an arrival in New Brunswick in the middle of the night. I came to Question Period this morning to hear MLA Jake Stewart ask the hard questions of the Minister that he’s been avoiding answering. Jake was poignant, thoughtful, and strong in his belief that Morgan should receive access to this drug. After all, the Liberals themselves said last year that they “can – and MUST – do better” for our kids suffering from rare diseases.

With three questions asked, Minister Boudreau decided not to provide proper answers. He started by saying there is a process, and that process includes a CDR report and they won’t fund drugs until that process is complete (it is, and was completed a long time ago). He neglected to mention that no MPS drugs ever get the blessing of the CDR panel, yet New Brunswick is paying for every other drug for MPS diseases that are currently on the market. He neglected to point out that the only patient with MPS in this province that isn’t receiving the life saving drug they need is Morgan. He neglected to say that this has less to do with what the experts say and more to do with the cost of the drug, something that should never be a hinderance to proper care in this country.

Minister Boudreau commented on the process used – Morgan’s file was sent to a reviewer in Ontario to make a decision whether to treat or not. One reviewer. With no avenue for appeal after any decision is rendered. He didn’t comment on that in Question Period, but after the decision was delivered I asked the Ministry of Health how we can appeal the ruling. I was ignored. I asked the Minister of Health 7 times for a meeting or information about how we can appeal the ruling. I was ignored. And I asked the Premier multiple times for a meeting to discuss an appeal. As you all know, I received a note telling me that he was unable to meet, with apologies “for the inconveniences this may cause.”

To me, this is the most difficult part to accept. No appeal? No opportunity to ensure the decision was rendered correctly before we condemn this little boy to a life of pain and suffering…to death? Prisoners on death row – prisoners there for the heinous crimes they have committed – have multiple opportunities to appeal their decided fate. Before that, their fates get decided by collections of people, people who have the opportunity to hear all viewpoints, all expert testimony, everything. They exhaust all avenues in making death sentence rulings, and then we allow those prisoners the opportunity to appeal and fight their fate. Not so for this little boy, it appears, and that will never be OK with me.

As I was typing this entry, Minister Boudreau dropped over to meet with me to discuss Morgan and his plea for help. I am thankful that he did, as I was able to present everything I’ve written above. He made a commitment to take a look at this case but truly believes in the process put in place. In his words, he will make not promises or commitments, but he will look at things and get back to me.

Knowing this, I implore Minister Boudreau to take a real look at this case and seek a new review of Morgan’s application. I asked Minister Boudreau to seek outside opinions from a panel of 3 or 5 International and Canadian experts that deal front-line with this disease and this treatment each and every day. I asked Minister Boudreau to allow a rigorous discussion on all available evidence that exists on this drug and the impact it has on patients, and I asked for expediency because it’s unethical to make a child and his family wait.

I asked this to allow for a transparent and fair process for Morgan. His life depends on it and it’s the right thing to do. And in the end, if the Minister doesn’t want to listen to and seek feed back from clinical expert opinion, patient reported outcomes, peer-reviewed published journals, etc., then who will he listen to? The opinion of 1 person who has never used this treatment and didn’t engage with those experts to help make his decision on Morgan’s fate?

If that’s the case, it’ NOT OK.

I’ll be here for a short while and will be putting out a PR tomorrow morning so that media can cover this story if they choose. Thank you for all of your support over the past little while – our last entry was seen over 20,000 times in a few short days. Sharing Morgan’s story is helpful, and staying ready to fight means the world to us.

I’ll update with any news as it develops.

09 Dec 2015

Sticky Post By mcfadyena Posted in Advocacy, Morquio, MPS IVA, Uncategorized Permalink

This Is Not OK – When Answers Aren't Really Answers