MYINFLA® – New Prevention Therapy for Cardiovascular Diseases

Drug Review: Volume 22, Issue 11 (PDF)

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as heart attack or stroke, are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. CVDs include coronary artery disease (CAD), which is a condition that affects the arteries that supply the heart with blood. CAD is caused by atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in the arteries. Research has shown that inflammation also plays a major role in the development of atherosclerosis. Currently, an estimated 2.4 million Canadians are living with CVD, and they are 3 times more likely to die prematurely compared to those without the condition.

For patients with CAD, the main goal of treatment is to prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular events. In addition to lifestyle modifications and surgical intervention, clinical guidelines recommend treatment with statins, such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin to reduce cholesterol levels. For patients who do not reach their target with maximally tolerated statins, blood thinning medications and blood pressure lowering agents can be added. Despite the widespread use of current preventive therapies, many patients with established CAD continue to suffer from heart-related adverse events, such as stroke, heart attack, hospitalization, and death. Therefore, there is a need for an additional therapy to further prevent such events from occurring.

The active ingredient of Myinfla^®, colchicine, has been used as one of the main therapies for the treatment of gout. In addition, it has recently been approved by Health Canada for the reduction of cardiovascular events including heart attack and stroke in adult patients with CAD. Myinfla^® is an anti-inflammatory drug and therefore can target the inflammatory processes involved in CVD. Myinfla^® is administered orally and dosed once daily, with a recommended dose of 0.5 mg. Clinical trials have shown that Myinfla^® demonstrated lower risk of heart related events (e.g. heart attack or stroke) compared to placebo. Common side effects include stomach upset and diarrhea, however, these side effects rarely led to discontinuation of therapy in clinical trials.

As a new add-on option to help prevent patients from heart-related medical events, Myinfla^® will be fully covered for ClaimSecure plans.