Etrasimod (Velsipity)

CADTH recommends that Velsipity be reimbursed by public drug plans for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) whose disease had an inadequate response or lost response, or who were intolerant, to either conventional therapy or an advanced treatment, if certain conditions are met. Velsipity should only be covered to treat adults with moderately to severely active UC whose disease has had an inadequate response or lost response, or who were intolerant, to either conventional therapy or an advanced treatment provided that it is covered for a similar patient population and in a similar way to other advanced therapies for UC (e.g., biologics, sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulators, or Janus kinase [JAK] inhibitors) currently reimbursed by public drug plans. Velsipity should only be reimbursed if it is prescribed by a physician experienced in the diagnosis and management of UC, if it is not used in combination with other advanced therapies for UC, and if the cost is reduced so that it does not cost the drug programs more than the least costly relevant advanced therapy. A patient’s disease must respond to the treatment in the first 12 weeks of starting Velsipity to continue receiving the drug.