American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Canada is currently facing a critical shortage of two drugs: one used to fight thyroid cancer, and another for a form of leukemia.
According to Health Canada, there are currently national shortages of Thyrotropin Alfa, which is used in the treatment of thyroid cancer, and Asparaginase, which is also known as Erwinase and used to treat a form of leukemia, which affects the blood and bone marrow.
It is unclear how many patients are affected.
"Cancer drug shortages continue to be a serious and growing concern within the Canadian health care system that has been impacting delivery of patient care and treatment for years," the Canadian Cancer Society said in a statement to CTVNews.ca. "We know that shortages are deeply worrying to people with cancer and their families – it is simply not acceptable to go without the medication you need."
The shortages follow U.S. reports of the unavailability of important chemotherapy drugs like carboplatin and cisplatin, which are used to treat a range of cancer types. Health Canada says both remain available in the country, which has multiple suppliers.
According to Health Canada, 2022 also saw shortages of cancer medications like Inqovi, paclitaxel powder, hydroxyurea, Zepzelca, and fludarabine, which have all now been resolved.
A Health Canada spokesperson says health care systems are conserving existing supplies of Thyrotropin Alfa while awaiting a resupply from a drug company, which has promised to accelerate manufacturing. Health Canada is tackling the Asparaginase shortage by importing foreign-authorized supplies and authorizing an alternative product known as Rylaze.
"The Department continues to monitor both of these critical shortages closely and is working in collaboration with stakeholders to mitigate impacts on patients," a Health Canada spokesperson told CTVNews.ca. "Drug shortages may occur for many reasons, including issues at a manufacturing site, a shipping delay, difficulty in obtaining raw materials or ingredients, a discontinuation of a drug, or an unexpected increase in demand."
CTVNews.ca reached out to the provinces and several regional and municipal health organizations, many of which noted periodic shortages of oncology drugs. In addition to Thyrotropin Alfa, the thyroid cancer drug, Nova Scotia Health said it was currently monitoring a shortage of Dexrazoxane, also known as Zinecard, which is used in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. There is currently no impact on patient care.
"Over the last months and years many different cancer drugs have experienced shortages," a Nova Scotia Health spokesperson told CTVNews.ca. "In Nova Scotia, as in other provinces, when there is a drug shortage, cancer care teams get together to make decisions to maximize the best outcome for all the patients on that particular therapy. They discuss other treatment options if they exist and then coordinate and implement strategies."
According to Health Canada, the country is currently facing shortages of at least 23 drugs.
"Drug shortages vary in severity and duration, and not all shortages have an impact on patients," the Health Canada spokesperson said. "Health Canada takes a leadership role when anticipated or actual national drug shortages are identified, working in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, industry stakeholders, healthcare system partners, and patient groups."
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Molly Knight, a grade four student in Nova Scotia, noticed her school library did not have many books on female athletes, so she started her own book drive in hopes of changing that.
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When Les Robertson was walking home from the gym in North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood three weeks ago, he did a double take. Standing near a burrow it had dug in a vacant lot near East 1st Street and St. Georges Avenue was a yellow-bellied marmot.
A moulting seal who was relocated after drawing daily crowds of onlookers in Greater Victoria has made a surprise return, after what officials described as an 'astonishing' six-day journey.
Just steps from Parliament Hill is a barber shop that for the last 100 years has catered to everyone from prime ministers to tourists.
A high score on a Foo Fighters pinball machine has Edmonton player Dave Formenti on a high.
A compound used to treat sour gas that's been linked to fertility issues in cattle has been found throughout groundwater in the Prairies, according to a new study.
While many people choose to keep their medical appointments private, four longtime friends decided to undergo vasectomies as a group in B.C.'s Lower Mainland.