Manitoba family calling for province to cover life-changing drug

A Manitoba family is advocating for the province to cover a potentially life-changing treatment option for people living with Cystic Fibrosis.

A new drug called Trikafta could be a life-changing treatment option for people living with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

Exciting news for Marilyn and Phill Snarr, whose five-year-old son Jack was born with CF. The disorder causes damage to the lungs, digestive system, and other organs in the body.

"Every day, we have to do one hour of treatment in the morning, and in the evening another hour of treatment," said Marilyn.

In June, the Snarr family was encouraged to learn Trikafta, a potential treatment for CT, was approved for use in Canada. The drug targets a gene mutation which is the root cause of the disease.

Last week the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology (CADTH) made their recommendations public, suggesting provinces publicly fund the new drug, and add it to their formulary.

Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan took the advice, but the Snarr family was disappointed to learn Manitoba hadn't done the same.

"For the CF community across Canada, that's wonderful that Alberta and Saskatchewan and Ontario have agreed to publicly fund it, but we need kind of everyone to publicly fund it," said Phil.