New Hope for Advanced BCC in Canada: Cemiplimab Now Publicly Funded in Key Provinces

Save Your Skin Foundation is thrilled to share a significant breakthrough for patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC). As of March 2025, the pan‑Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) has signed a Letter of Intent with Regeneron Canada to begin reimbursement negotiations for cemiplimab (Libtayo) for laBCC, paving the way for public funding in several provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan (1).

What This Means for Patients

1. CADTH Recommends Reimbursement (Since March 2022)

The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) issued a positive recommendation for cemiplimab in treating laBCC in patients previously treated with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor, though subject to conditions such as clinician expertise and cost-effectiveness (2).

2. Ontario: Funded via New Drug Funding Program

Cancer Care Ontario lists cemiplimab for locally advanced BCC among therapies eligible for support under the New Drug Funding Program (NDFP), meaning Ontario residents may now access this treatment through public funding (3).

3. British Columbia: Included in Benefit Drug List

BC Cancer’s August 2025 Benefit Drug List confirms public reimbursement for “Treatment of Locally Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma using Cemiplimab,” providing provincial access for eligible patients (4).

4. Saskatchewan: Likely to Be Funded

While Saskatchewan’s provincial formulary listings aren’t yet fully public, cemiplimab is noted as potentially continuing treatment for up to 2 years—strongly suggesting inclusion in the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency funding framework for cancer drugs (5).

Why This Change Matters

Addressing an Unmet Need: Prior to cemiplimab, patients with laBCC unable to undergo surgery/radiation or for whom hedgehog inhibitor therapy failed had no effective systemic options.
Hope Through Evidence: Clinical trials showed meaningful tumor response and duration of effect in this hard-to-treat population.
Advocacy in Action: Patient advocacy groups played a crucial role, contributing feedback during CADTH’s review process (6).

What’s Next?

Provincial Implementation. Each province now has approval to make cemiplimab accessible under their public drug programs. This includes establishing criteria for eligibility and clinician administration.
Patient & Provider Awareness. Both healthcare professionals and patients should stay informed about provincial updates to access programs, funding forms, and clinician requirements.
Continued Advocacy. We hope for continued momentum by encouraging provinces yet to confirm access, monitoring eligibility timelines, and sharing patient experiences.