JONES CALLS ON MINISTER OF HEALTH TO FUND LIFE-CHANGING MEDICATION FOR RARE BRAIN DISEASE

(Queen’s Park) –Today, Sylvia Jones, MPP Dufferin-Caledon called on the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to publicly-fund medication for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU).

PKU is a rare, inherited, brain threatening metabolic disorder. For decades the only treatment for this brain-threatening condition has been a lifelong adherence to a severely restive diet.

However, in 2010 Health Canada approved a new drug, Kuvan which has shown signs of helping those with PKU. Yet, the Minister’s highly restrictive criteria for individuals to access publicly-funded Kuvan have meant no application has ever been approved.

“Since the spring of 2015, I have been working with a family in my riding whose daughter has PKU and has been receiving Kuvan through a drug trial for the last seven years. “Unfortunately the trial is set to end and my constituents simply cannot afford the staggering cost of Kuvan which is $170,000 per year,” Jones said.

“On October 26th, the Common Drug Review recommended that the government should publicly-fund Kuvan. It’s time for the Minister to listen to this recommendation and cover the cost of Kuvan for my constituent and those around the province living with PKU,” Jones said.

To read more about what Jones is doing in the Legislature please visit: www.sylviajonesmpp.ca.

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For more information, contact:
Christopher Dacunha
416-325-1898
sylvia.jonesla@pc.ola.org