Canadian Alzheimer's patients now have a new option for treating their symptoms: the first skin patch for delivering medication.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. announced this week it is bringing to the Canadian market a once-a-day skin patch formulation of its existing drug Exelon.
Exelon, whose generic name is rivastigmine, is currently administered by capsules that are taken twice a day. The new patch is a once-a-day formulation that is applied to the back, chest or upper arm, and provides smooth and continuous delivery of medication through the skin over 24 hours.
Novartis says it should help reduce the risk of confusion over whether a dose had been taken. It should also be helpful to patients who have difficulty swallowing pills and capsules.
What's more, it offers fewer side effects than the capsule form, says Dr. Sandra Black, professor of Neurology at the University of Toronto.
"The unique delivery of the patch is very positive news for patients and their caregivers. It allows them to access and stay on the most effective dose with fewer side effects of nausea and vomiting than the oral form, she says.
It will be an attractive option for patients that offers the possibility to delay the symptomatic progression of their disease."
The price of Exelon Patch is $4.29 per day. Currently, it is not covered under any public formularies. Novartis is preparing submissions for public formularies and private payer plans; however, they cannot speculate yet about the medications' inclusion.
Exelon is one of a group of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors that are used to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
In addition to the Exelon Patch, there are three other ChEIs already approved for use in Canada in a capsule form, including Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl.
As well, a new drug named Ebixa has been conditionally approved by Health Canada to relieve the symptoms of people with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. It has been approved pending the results of further studies to verify its clinical benefit.
The Alzheimer Society of Canada says it is important to note that these drugs are intended to treat some of the disease symptoms, but do not stop, or attack, the underlying disease process. They say it is also important to note that not all people will respond to these drugs.
