The Canada Border Services Agency has begun a concentrated effort to stop the smuggling of thalidomide (Thalomid) into Canada. Also, Health Canada is halting all orders and shipments of unlicensed versions of thalidomide as well as the licensed brands from Mexico and other developing countries. These measures were taken after recent news articles focused on myeloma patients smuggling low-priced thalidomide into Canada.

Despite these actions, the issue of how patients who cannot afford thalidomide are to obtain the drug remains unaddressed. Most Canadian provincial health plans do not reimburse patients for the cost of thalidomide from Celgene Corporation, the only version of thalidomide allowed in Canada. Some patients are even considering moving to the Canadian province of British Columbia because it is the only province where a similar drug Revlimid (lenalidomide) is covered.

Treatment with thalidomide extends the expected lifetime of myeloma patients. However, if they are unable to pay for the drug and cannot obtain it through other means, patients believe that those years are stolen away from them.

According to Health Canada, Celgene is the only manufacturer of thalidomide in Canada because it thoroughly deals with the drug’s side effects.

For more information, see the related news article at the National Post Web site.