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Ontario coverage, price, criteria word for word, Health Canada status and shortages for one product

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FAMCICLOVIR

All products: not a benefit

Other products in the same Health Canada class (J05A, J05AB) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Acyclovir (Zovirax): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Ganciclovir (Cytovene): general benefit
  • Valacyclovir (Valtrex): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Remdesivir (Veklury): limited Use 722
  • Valganciclovir (Valcyte): limited Use 374, 568, 569, Limited Use 571, 572, 573
  • Abacavir + lamivudine + zidovudine (Trizivir): general benefit

48 more in the class list below

Famvir · DIN 02229129 · 250mg · tablet

Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefitMarketed · checked 2026-09-19
StatusOff-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit
Write on scriptnot a benefit; no Exceptional Access criteria on record; see alternatives
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
1 brand, same coverage
Famvir · DIN 02229129 Manufacturer: Atnahs Pharma UK Limited; listing date 2007-09-04 Health Canada: Marketed since 2025-02-13 · brand FAMVIR · ATC J05AB09 FAMCICLOVIR · form Tablet · route Oral · ingredients FAMCICLOVIR 250 MG · company Searchlight pharma inc · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Famvir: Formulary list price not recorded/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=43514 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02229129)

Source record
The source extract's flag for this DIN is unclear — confirm on the e-Formulary before prescribing (DIN 02229129). DIN 02229129: Famvir Raw flags: sec3=Y, sec3b=Y, sec3bEAP=Y Item: 081800029; group id 87; item number 0157; lccId None; manufacturer id APU Source form: Tab; strength: 250mg Recorded listing: Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit; may be reimbursed through the Exceptional Access Program when approved (likely, unconfirmed) Source prices (unrounded): not recorded; ministry not recorded Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02229129 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=43514
Interchangeable products
Apo-Famciclovir · DIN 02292041 · $2.7200
Shortage status: not checked (no credentials)
Other drugs in the same formulary class (08:18 Antivirals) and how they are covered

Matched class: 08:18 Antivirals

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: ABACAVIR & LAMIVUDINE & ZIDOVUDINE, ABACAVIR SULFATE, ABACAVIR SULFATE & LAMIVUDINE, BICTEGRAVIR SODIUM/EMTRICITABINE/TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE HEMIFUMARATE, CABOTEGRAVIR, CABOTEGRAVIR & RILPIVIRINE, COBICISTAT & ELVITEGRAVIR & EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE, DARUNAVIR & COBICISTAT, DARUNAVIR & COBICISTAT & EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE, DELAVIRDINE MESYLATE, DOLUTEGRAVIR, DOLUTEGRAVIR & ABACAVIR & LAMIVUDINE, DOLUTEGRAVIR & RILPIVIRINE, DOLUTEGRAVIR SODIUM/LAMIVUDINE, DORAVIRINE, DORAVIRINE/LAMIVUDINE/TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE, EFAVIRENZ/TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE/EMTRICITABINE, ELVITEGRAVIR & COBICISTAT & EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE, EMTRICITABINE & RILPIVIRINE HCL & TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE HEMIFUMARATE, EMTRICITABINE & RILPIVIRINE HCL & TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL, EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE, ETRAVIRINE, FOSAMPRENAVIR CALCIUM, GANCICLOVIR SODIUM, LAMIVUDINE & ZIDOVUDINE, LOPINAVIR & RITONAVIR, MARAVIROC, NELFINAVIR MESYLATE, RALTEGRAVIR POTASSIUM, RILPIVIRINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RITONAVIR Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): ACYCLOVIR, ATAZANAVIR SULFATE, DARUNAVIR, EFAVIRENZ, LAMIVUDINE, NEVIRAPINE, VALACYCLOVIR 08:18 Antivirals

ACYCLOVIR

· 15 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (13) · strengths: 200mg, 400mg, 800mg · Tab

GANCICLOVIR SODIUM

· 1 products · General benefit · strengths: 500mg/Vial · Pd Inj-10mL Pk

VALACYCLOVIR

· 21 products · General benefit (13), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (8) · strengths: 500mg, 1000mg · Tab

REMDESIVIR

· 1 products · Limited Use, codes 722 · strengths: 100mg/vial · Pd for Sol-100mg Vial Pk

VALGANCICLOVIR

· 6 products · Limited Use, codes 571, 572, 573 (2), Limited Use, codes 374, 568, 569 (4) · strengths: 50mg/mL, 450mg · Pd for Oral Sol-100mL Pk, Tab

ABACAVIR & LAMIVUDINE & ZIDOVUDINE

· 2 products · General benefit · strengths: 300mg & 150mg & 300mg · Tab

ABACAVIR SULFATE

· 4 products · General benefit · strengths: 20mg/mL, 300mg · O/L, Tab

ABACAVIR SULFATE & LAMIVUDINE

· 7 products · General benefit · strengths: 600mg & 300mg · Tab

ATAZANAVIR SULFATE

· 12 products · General benefit (8), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (4) · strengths: 150mg, 200mg, 300mg · Cap

BICTEGRAVIR SODIUM/EMTRICITABINE/TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE HEMIFUMARATE

· 1 products · General benefit · strengths: 50mg & 200mg & 25mg · Tab

CABOTEGRAVIR

· 3 products · General benefit · strengths: 200mg/mL, 30mg · Inj Sol-ER Susp 3mL Vial Kit Pk, Tab

CABOTEGRAVIR & RILPIVIRINE

· 2 products · General benefit · strengths: 200mg/mL & 300mg/mL · Inj Sol-2mL Kit, Inj Sol-3mL Kit Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 08:18 and 42 more
Full class listing Related classes: 08:08 Anthelmintics, 08:12 Antibiotics, 08:14 Antifungals, 08:16 Antitubercular Agents, 08:20 Plasmodicides (Antimalarials), 08:24 Sulfonamides, 08:30 Antiprotozoals, 08:32 Trichomonacides, 08:36 Urinary Anti-Infectives, 08:40 Miscellaneous Anti-Infectives Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
Other drugs whose Health Canada label lists a similar indication: herpes zoster
From Health Canada product monographs; label wording only, not a treatment recommendation. Matching is lexical and uses one held product label per generic; formulations and qualifying criteria may differ. No displayed matched alternative is a general benefit. VALACYCLOVIR · General benefit (13), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (8) Indications VALTREX, valacyclovir tablets (as valacyclovir hydrochloride), is indicated: • For the treatment of herpes zoster (shingles) in adult patients. PM: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00083875.PDF; date 2026-03-13; DIN 02219492; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph Coverage source: ON formulary extract 2026-08-26
What the Health Canada label says it is for
INDICATIONS AND CLINICAL USE FAMVIR® (famciclovir) tablets are indicated : • for the treatment of acute herpes zoster (shingles) • for the treatment or suppression of recurrent episodes of genital herpes in immunocompetent adults. • for the treatment of recurrent episodes of mucocutaneous herpes simplex infections in HIV-infected patients. Early treatment of acute herpes zoster (shingles) in immune-competent individuals with oral famciclovir resulted in decreased time to loss of vesicles; decreased time to loss of crusts; and decreased viral shedding. The results of clinical studies indicate that early treatment of acute herpes zoster with oral famciclovir resulted in decreased duration of post-herpetic neuralgia. Those most likely to benefit are patients who initiate treatment within 48 hours of onset of rash or are greater than 50 years of age or those patients with severe pain at the time of treatment initiation. In clinical studies of immunocompetent patients with recurrent genital herpes (typically ≥ 6 episodes in a 12 month period) famciclovir suppressed lesional episodes, slowed the rate to first recurrence and patients were mor… https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00078599.PDF PM date: FEB 13, 2025 Source product: FAMVIR; DIN 02177102; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.

Other review policies

For Famvir: no applicable EAP criteria are held and no ODB benefit is established. These policies do not establish coverage.

For rare, immediately life-, limb- or organ-threatening circumstances, the Compassionate Review Policy may consider an unfunded drug or indication, subject to its criteria and without bypassing the drug review process. Compassionate Review Policy

Compassionate Review Policy: source quote
Where there are rare clinical circumstances in immediately life, limb, or organ-threatening conditions, the Executive Officer will also consider requests for drugs or indications in situations where there has not been a decision by the Executive Officer to provide funding of the drug or indication as part of the Ontario Drug Benefit program (and the EAP), and the drug or indication requested would not circumvent the established review process for new drugs or indications as part of the drug submission process for listing within the Ontario Drug Benefit program. Requests must meet the criteria for the Compassionate Review Policy.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026

For cancer drugs, Case-by-Case Review considers rare, immediately life-threatening circumstances when no satisfactory funded treatment exists; its criteria and application process apply. Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs)

Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs): source quote
Note: Requests for cancer drugs are considered under the Case-by-Case Review Program (CBCRP) which is administered by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The CBCRP considers funding requests for drugs (both oral therapies and injectable drugs) for the treatment of cancer in patients who have a rare clinical circumstance that is immediately life-threatening (death is likely within a matter of months) and who require treatment with an unfunded drug, because there is no other satisfactory and funded treatment. Please refer to the Ontario Health website for information on the application process, FAQs, eligibility criteria and program policies.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026