Abemaciclib (Verzenio)

Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) recommends that Verzenio should be reimbursed by public drug plans for the treatment of hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer in patients who were postmenopausal in combination with nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors (NSAIs) as an initial endocrine-based therapy, if certain conditions are met. Verzenio plus NSAI should be covered to treat adults with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer, with a good performance status. Verzenio plus NSAI should not be covered in patients who have previously received cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors or received more than 1 line of chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Verzenio plus NSAI should only be reimbursed if prescribed by clinicians with expertise in managing advanced or metastatic breast cancer and if the cost of Verzenio does not exceed the drug program cost of treatment with ribociclib plus NSAI, reimbursed for the indicated population.