(Toronto, ON – June 7, 2017) – ABC Life Literacy Canada (ABC) is proud to announce the second year of ABC Health Matters, a health literacy program developed to help Canadians increase their confidence when talking about and making decisions regarding health issues with family, friends, and health care professionals. With the support of AbbVie Corporation and McKesson Canada, and through delivery partner University Health Network (UHN), ABC Health Matters will reach patient groups with this health care provider-led program. The ambition of ABC Health Matters is to create a healthier and more confident Canada by increasing the health literacy of all Canadians.

 

“ABC is pleased to launch the second year of ABC Health Matters to help Canadians build their confidence and knowledge to navigate the health care system,” said Mack Rogers, Executive Director, ABC Life Literacy Canada. “With the support of AbbVie, McKesson, and delivery partner UHN, we are helping learners to be more comfortable talking about their health and to become advocates for

themselves and their family to make informed decisions about their health care for an improved quality of life.”

 

An alarming 60 percent of adults and 88 percent of seniors have low health literacy (Public Health Agency of Canada). Our ability to thrive—as individuals, families, communities, and as a country—relies on good health, yet those with low health literacy are more likely to be sick, ill, or injured and have difficulty understanding and following a treatment plan. ABC Health Matters targets adults who struggle to manage their health and arms them with the knowledge to better access health care to live a more healthy life.

 

The program was piloted across Ontario last year to adult literacy programs with very positive results. Learners reported an increase in confidence to manage their own health and the health of those they care for and an increase in knowledge of their rights and responsibilities as a patient. Ninety-three percent of participants indicated they intended to be more proactive about their health and intend to ask more questions of their health care professionals going forward.

 

“We are very excited to continue our partnership with ABC and evolve our workshops to be leveraged in hospitals. We strongly believe that improving health literacy is vital to a healthier Canada.

It is through supporting such initiatives as ABC Health Matters that we are taking a step forward in making a positive impact in healthcare sustainability,” said Stéphane Lassignardie, General Manager, AbbVie.

 

ABC Health Matters program includes two workbooks, which are delivered in two, two-hour workshops. The workbooks can also be downloaded for free from our website for use at home by learners. The first workbook includes information such as how to talk about your health with your family and with your health care provider and includes practice activities and helpful sample scripts. The second workbook

 

includes information specific to the Ontario health care system and UHN network with details about services from your local pharmacist and doctor, Telehealth, and how to create a medical history card.

 

“Increasing the health literacy of patients makes them full partners in their care. ABC Health Matters is an innovative example that demonstrates how pharmacists can be a key resource in health literacy and how active participation can increase positive outcomes and improve adherence for individuals, families and communities. McKesson Canada is proud to continue to partner with ABC Health Matters to support this important initiative,” said Paula Keays, President, McKesson Canada.

 

ABC Health Matters will be delivered at three UHN locations across Toronto in workshops held during May and June. Led by McKesson pharmacist volunteers and the UHN health care team, the program will reach 150 patient-learners as well as learners across Canada accessing the program through self-led delivery. To register for a workshop or download the program workbooks for free, visit ABCHealthMatters.ca.

 

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About ABC Life Literacy Canada

ABC Life Literacy Canada is a non-profit organization that inspires Canadians to increase their literacy and essential skills. We mobilize business, government and communities to support lifelong learning and achieve our goals through leadership in programs, communications and partnerships. We envision a Canada where everyone has the skills they need to live a fully engaged life. For the latest news and information on adult literacy please visit www.abclifeliteracy.ca. Follow us on Twitter (@abclifeliteracy). For more information about ABC Health Matters visit ABCHealthMatters.ca.

 

About AbbVie Corporation

AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company’s mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world’s most complex and serious diseases. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 29,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For more information: www.abbvie.ca on Twitter at @abbviecanada.

 

About McKesson Canada

Founded more than 100 years ago, McKesson Canada is dedicated to delivering vital medicines, supplies and information technologies that enable the healthcare industry to provide patients better, safer care. Our solutions empower pharmacies, manufacturers, hospitals and other healthcare institutions by enabling them to get closer to the millions of patients they serve every single day, while contributing to the quality and safety of care in Canada. For more information, visit www.mckesson.ca.

 

For more information, please contact:

Milena Stanoeva

Marketing and Communications Coordinator ABC Life Literacy Canada

416-218-0010 x122

mstanoeva@abclifeliteracy.ca

 

• If approved, G/P may provide a shorter, eight week, once-daily, ribavirin-free treatment option for the majority of HCV patients without cirrhosis
• AbbVie’s New Drug Submission is supported by data from its global registrational clinical development program across all major HCV genotypes and in patients with specific treatment challenges

 

Montreal, QC, February 1, 2017 – AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced it has submitted a New Drug Submission (NDS), and received priority review from Health Canada, for its investigational, pan-genotypic regimen of glecaprevir (ABT-493)/pibrentasvir (ABT-530) (G/P) for the treatment of all major chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes.

 

If approved, G/P may provide a shorter treatment duration for genotypes 1-6 (GT1-6) in patients without cirrhosis, who make up a large portion of HCV patients in Canada, and an additional treatment option to patients with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A). G/P is also intended to address the unmet medical needs of patients with specific treatment challenges, including those with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) and those not cured with previous direct acting antiviral (DAA) treatment.

 

“HCV patients with severe chronic kidney disease present a complex challenge for physicians to treat. This is particularly true in those with genotype 2 and 3 infection, and those with cirrhosis,” said

Curtis Cooper, Director of the Regional Hepatitis Program at the Ottawa Hospital. “Recent clinical trial

results are a positive development in AbbVie’s investigation of the G/P regimen for patients with chronic kidney disease, who currently have limited HCV treatment options.”

 

“At no other time in history has the goal of eliminating hepatitis C in Canada been within reach like it is now, said Stéphane Lassignardie, General Manager, AbbVie Canada. “We are firmly committed to seeing this goal accomplished. As such, we have invested significantly in recent years in clinical trials in Canada for our investigational, pan-genotypic G/P regimen and will continue collaborating with Health Canada to help provide a cure for as many Canadians as possible living with HCV.”

 

AbbVie’s NDS is supported by data from eight registrational studies in AbbVie’s G/P clinical development program, which evaluated more than 2,300 patients in 27 countries, including 174 patients in Canada, across all major HCV genotypes and special populations. Patient populations studied included GT1-6, those new and experienced to antiviral treatment, those with compensated cirrhosis and without cirrhosis, and patients with specific treatment challenges, including those with severe CKD, and those not cured with a prior DAA-containing regimen. The registrational program for G/P was designed to

 

investigate a faster path to virologic cure* for all major HCV genotypes (GT1-6) and with the goal of addressing areas of continued unmet need.

 

On January 24, AbbVie announced its marketing authorization application (MAA) for G/P has been validated and is now under accelerated assessment by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). On December 19, 2016, AbbVie submitted its New Drug Application (NDA) for G/P to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of GT1-6 chronic HCV. And on September 30, 2016, AbbVie announced that G/P was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA for genotype 1 patients not cured with prior direct-acting antivirals.

 

G/P is an investigational product and its safety and efficacy have not been established. Additional information on the clinical trials for G/P is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

 

About AbbVie’s HCV Clinical Development Program

AbbVie’s Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (G/P) clinical development program was designed to investigate a faster path to virologic cure* for all major HCV genotypes (GT1-6) and with the goal of addressing treatment areas of continued unmet need.

 

G/P is an investigational, pan-genotypic regimen being evaluated as a potential cure in 8 weeks for HCV patients without cirrhosis and who are new to treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA)**, who make up the majority of HCV patients. AbbVie is also studying G/P in patients with specific treatment challenges, such as genotype 3 patients who were not cured with previous DAA treatment, and those with CKD, including patients on dialysis.

 

G/P is a once-daily regimen that combines two distinct antiviral agents. G/P is a fixed-dose combination of glecaprevir (300mg), an NS3/4A protease inhibitor, and pibrentasvir (120mg), an NS5A inhibitor, dosed once-daily as three oral tablets. Glecaprevir (GLE) was discovered during the ongoing collaboration between AbbVie and Enanta Pharmaceuticals for HCV protease inhibitors and regimens that include protease inhibitors.

 

*Patients who achieve a sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post treatment (SVR₁₂) are considered cured of hepatitis C.

**Patients who are treatment-naive or not cured with previous IFN-based treatments ([peg]IFN +/- RBV or SOF/RBV +/- pegIFN).

 

About AbbVie Canada

AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company’s mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world’s most complex and serious diseases. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 28,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.ca and www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbviecanada on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

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For further information:

Eileen Murphy AbbVie Canada

 

(514) 832-7788

Eileen.murphy@abbvie.com