Epilepsy drug 'with the power to be life-changing' now covered in Sask.

An anti-seizure medication that epilepsy patients have been asking the Saskatchewan government to pay for is now being covered in the province.

Xcopri, the brand name for cenobamate tablets, is being added to the Saskatchewan Formulary.

In a news release issued Thursday morning, Saskatchewan health minister Jeremy Cockrill acknowledged people living with epilepsy, and the specialists who care for them, have been calling for access to this medication.

Cockrill said the drug offers "real hope" to people struggling with uncontrolled seizures, adding it could mean fewer hospital visits, fewer surgeries, and a better quality of life.

In the government release, Epilepsy Saskatoon President Lori Newman said Xcopri has shown it has the potential to reduce or control seizures, even for people that have historically struggled with seizure control.

Newman said the medication "has the power to be life-changing," adding coverage of the drug gives people living with epilepsy "tangible hope."

Local advocate pleased with new coverage

Dr. Alexandra Carter, an assistant professor of neurology and epilepsy, and director of the Saskatchewan Epilepsy Program at the University of Saskatchewan, had been advocating for the government to cover the drug.

"It's really, really exciting to have had people actually listen to us," she said.

"It was a shock when it wasn't immediately approved, because this is such a great medication."

According to the government, about 10,500 people in Saskatchewan live with epilepsy. It estimates about 100 people could benefit from this medication in the first year of coverage.

Carter said about 30 per cent of people with epilepsy do not have their seizures well-controlled with other medications, meaning there is likely more than 3,000 people in the province who could benefit from this drug.

She said that without government coverage, Xcopri costs people about $300 per month, which is usually not affordable for people with epilepsy who can't control their seizures and therefore can't work.

"That makes me feel really good about the fact that our government is actually listening to us. I was feeling pretty cynical before," she said.

"I wasn't expecting to see a lot of action coming out of this. I'm actually really quite thankful."

Sask. family 'so happy' and relieved

Lee Jones, whose 36-year-old son has seizures that had become resistant to drugs, said he started Xcopri last year and there was a big change. She said it has helped to somewhat control his seizures.

"At one point, he was down to maybe eight seizures a month, which was a huge reduction," she said.

"But it still creates so much uncertainty in his day-to-day life. He just can't do things he'd like to do."

Jones said they are still optimistic about the medication, because her son is not taking the maximum dose.

She said her son had been given the drug without having to pay for it through a pharmaceutical program that introduced it to Canadian residents, but there was no guarantee that the program would continue.

"It's given us a lot of relief that we can continue with this drug that's proving to be more effective than any of the medications he's had in the past," she said.

Jones said her phone was "blowing up" when the news was announced.

"I'm super excited that it's going to be made available to Saskatchewan residents," she said. "I'm so happy that people will be able to access this drug."

Criteria for coverage of Xcopri is listed on the Saskatchewan Formulary, along with other medications that may be appropriate for epilepsy patients.