ONTARIO AND QUEBEC EXPAND PUBLIC COVERAGE OF REPATHA® FOR ELIGIBLE RECENT ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME PATIENTS

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 7, 2026 /CNW/ – Amgen Canada announced today that the Governments of Ontario and Quebec have expanded public reimbursement of Repatha^® (evolocumab injection) for eligible patients following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Repatha is approved as an adjunct to diet and standard-of-care therapy, to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and coronary revascularization in adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.¹

In Ontario, updated coverage through the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program includes eligible patients within 52 weeks of an ACS who are not meeting cholesterol targets despite standard lipid-lowering therapies.² Full reimbursement criteria and information can be found by consulting the ODB program for details.

In Quebec, Repatha was publicly listed for ACS on February 4, making it the first province to do so.³ This includes coverage for eligible patients up to 24 months following an ACS who are not meeting cholesterol targets despite standard lipid-lowering therapies. Full reimbursement criteria and details are available in the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) formulary.

“Quebec’s pioneering role in expanding access to care for patients who have suffered an acute coronary syndrome reflects a growing focus on managing cardiovascular risk following a cardiac event,” said Dr. Jean C. Grégoire, Interventional Cardiologist at the Montreal Heart Institute. “It is essential that other provinces continue their efforts to ensure more patients have access to appropriate and effective treatment following an event.”

“Public funding for Repatha is incredibly meaningful for patients following an acute coronary syndrome,” said Daniel Jun Martinez, Executive Medical Director of Amgen Canada. “Extending coverage and broadening eligibility could help more patients access appropriate lipid-lowering therapy early after an acute event, when timely treatment may be critical for reducing future cardiovascular risk.”^4,5

Patients who experience an ACS face a substantially elevated risk of recurrent cardiovascular events, particularly in the first few years following the initial event.⁶ In Ontario, 42 per cent of patients with a history of an ACS remain above the Canadian lipid guideline-recommended LDL-C threshold despite treatment.⁷ Among Canadian patients with ASCVD who subsequently experience an ACS and remain above the LDL-C threshold of 1.8 mmol/L despite statin therapy, nearly half will experience another cardiovascular event within 3.4 years, and one in four will die from cardiovascular causes.⁸ Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines recommend additional lipid-lowering treatment when LDL-C remains above 1.8 mmol/L following an ACS, to reduce the risk of subsequent events.⁹

“After leaving the hospital, patients still need ongoing treatment to support their heart health,” said Dr. Shaun Goodman, Associate Head of Cardiology at St. Michael’s Hospital. “Lowering LDL cholesterol is a critically important part of that care, and access to appropriate therapies helps ensure patients receive the standard-of-care treatment recommended by their physicians.”

Each year, more than 60,000 Canadians experience their first heart attack¹⁰ and another 158,000 are diagnosed with coronary artery disease,¹¹ a condition that causes plaque to build up in the arteries, reducing blood flow and increasing the risk of future cardiovascular events.¹²

“Following an acute coronary syndrome, patients remain at high risk for another cardiovascular event, particularly when LDL-C levels remain elevated,”¹³ said Dr. Jeffrey Habert, family physician and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. “Expanding access to additional lipid-lowering therapies gives clinicians the opportunity to act sooner and help patients avoid potentially preventable future events.”

About Repatha (evolocumab)

Repatha is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). By preventing PCSK9-mediated degradation of LDL receptors, Repatha increases the liver’s ability to remove LDL-C (“bad cholesterol”) from the bloodstream.

Globally, Repatha has 8.5M patients and has been studied in more than 50 clinical trials involving over 57,000 patients and is approved in over 70 countries.^14,15,16 It is administered via a single-use prefilled SureClick^® autoinjector.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION 

• Contraindications: 
  Hypersensitivity to Repatha or to any ingredient in the formulation, including any non-medicinal ingredient or component of the container. Refer to the Contraindications section of the relevant product monographs of any concomitant lipid-lowering medications
• Relevant warnings and precautions: 
  Refer to the Warnings and Precautions section of the relevant product monographs of any concomitant lipid-lowering medications. Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., rash, urticaria, angioedema) have been reported. If signs or symptoms of serious allergic reactions occur, discontinue Repatha and treat according to standard of care and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve. No studies have been conducted with Repatha in pregnant women or nursing women and relevant data from clinical use are very limited. There is no information regarding the presence of evolocumab in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production; a risk to breastfed infants cannot be excluded. Statin product monographs recommend discontinuation when a patient becomes pregnant, therefore Repatha should also be discontinued. Data on efficacy and safety in HoFH patients aged 10-11 years are limited. Efficacy and safety have not been established in pediatric patients <10 years of age with HeFH, HoFH or in pediatric patients with other types of hyperlipidemia. Use with caution in patients with severe renal impairment. Use with caution in patients with severe hepatic impairment. The autoinjector is not made with natural rubber latex. Effects of Repatha in patients with or at risk of hepatitis C virus infection remain uncertain.
• For more information: 
  Consult the Product Monograph at www.amgen.ca/Repatha_PM.pdf for important information relating to adverse reactions, drug interactions and dosing information which have not been discussed in this piece.

For the Product Monograph and questions about Repatha, contact Amgen Canada Medical Information at 1-866-502-6436 or visit www.amgenmedinfo.ca

About Amgen Canada
As a leader in innovation, Amgen Canada understands the value of science. With main operations located in Mississauga, Ontario’s vibrant biomedical cluster, and its research facility in Burnaby, B.C., Amgen Canada has been an important contributor to advancements in science and innovation in Canada since 1991. The company contributes to the development of new therapies and new uses for existing medicines in partnership with many of Canada’s leading healthcare, academic, research, government and patient organizations. To learn more about Amgen Canada, visit www.amgen.ca.

Amgen’s Commitment to Cardiovascular Innovation

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major global health threat, linked to multiple interrelated risk factors like high LDL-C, Lp(a), obesity, diabetes and hypertension. These risks often coexist and require a comprehensive approach to prevention and care. Amgen is taking bold action, building on decades of leadership in CVD through LDL-C management to advance additional innovative, investigational treatments in the pipeline targeting common drivers of CVD. By combining scientific innovation with strategic partnerships to drive earlier testing, better care and broader access, Amgen’s efforts reflect a sustained commitment to advancing both the science and the system of CV care.

Amgen Forward-Looking Statements
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CONTACT: 
Phynicia Choy
[email protected]
416-628-4110

SOURCE Amgen Canada