Ontario announces coverage for new ALS treatment

The Ontario government has announced it will be providing insurance coverage for a new treatment for ALS.

The new drug, Albrioza, has been shown to slow disease for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Albrioza is now being explored for the treatment of other neurodegenerative diseases.

Access to the new ALS treatment is being funded through the Ontario Drug Benefit Program’s Exceptional Access Program for all Ontarians who meet coverage criteria, though this specific criteria hasn’t been specified yet.

This announcement makes Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to cover the treatment in a publicly funded program.

READ MORE: Ontario adds 300 new spaces in paramedic college programs