‘A chance to live’: Albertans boosted by access to new cancer treatment

A promising new treatment is hailed as a hopeful step for patients with a rare and deadly form of cancer that often impacts younger adults.

Canadians will now have access to a promising new treatment for a rare, deadly form of cancer, thanks to the help of advocates—including some Albertans—lobbying two levels of government.

Pemigatinib (brand name Pemazyre) can be used to fight cholangiocarcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer.

The Canadian Drug Agency previously decided not to recommend Pemazyre but has now reversed that decision due to feedback from doctors and patients, including Jennifer Nielsen of High River.

“Since being on Pemazyre, my tumours in a number of locations in my body shrunk 30 per cent. For me, that’s the first time in two years there’s been real progress,” she said.

Nielsen said the targeted treatment has allowed her to get back to golfing, visiting friends and travelling.

Chris Dyment was able to give his daughter Courtney her first ride on the playground swings this spring, but the Calgary dad wasn’t sure this would be possible one year ago.

Last year, he was urging the province to cover the cost of Pemazyre.

Patients are first given chemotherapy, but those who need a second treatment option but can’t get it survive an average of five months.

“I wouldn’t be here right now if I didn’t get the second line,” said Dyment.

After CTV’s story in March 2024, Alberta did agree to cover the roughly $15,000 a month—on a case-by-case basis—but now Pemazyre will be widely available across Canada.

“It’s amazing,” said Dyment.

“I’m really happy they’re starting to do that. Lots of people can be on this for years and years without progression.

“I can travel because it’s in pill form. I’ve had a reduction in tumour size by 30-50 per cent.”

Red Deer’s Brenda Clayton and her family have been fighting for people with this rare cancer since 2021, when her oldest daughter, Rebecca, died of the disease after her first treatment ended and no other options were available.

“I think she’d be happy we’re making some headway,” said Clayton.

“Cholangiocarcinoma patients deserve a chance to live as well, so this is a start.”

Her family started Cholangio-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Canada, which helped lobby all of Canada’s health ministers.

Medical experts are hopeful that Canada’s change of heart about Pemazyre will lead to the approval of other promising treatments for bile duct cancer.

“This is a phenomenal step to get this approved. There’s drugs out there that other places have that we don’t have access to because they didn’t bother bringing it because Canada said no the first time around,” said Dr. Ravi Ramjeesingh, medical oncologist and HPB Disease site chair.

Pemazyre was previously approved by Health Canada, but now the recommendation by the Canadian Drug Agency means provinces will work with the drug company to cover the cost of providing the treatment.