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

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ENTECAVIR

All products: Limited Use (codes 505, 506, 507, 508)

Other products in the same Health Canada class (J05AF) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Abacavir (Ziagen): general benefit
  • Lamivudine (3tc): general benefit, Limited Use 502, 503, 504, Not a benefit
  • Tenofovir alafenamide (Vemlidy): limited Use 517, 518, 519, 520, 521
  • Tenofovir disoproxil (Viread): limited Use 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522
  • Adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera): not a benefit
  • Zidovudine (Retrovir): not a benefit

48 more in the class list below

PMS-Entecavir · DIN 02430576 · 0.5mg · tablet

Limited Use — Reason for Use code 505, 506, 507, 508 requiredMarketed · checked 2026-09-19
StatusLimited Use — Reason for Use code 505, 506, 507, 508 required
Write on scriptLU code 505, 506, 507, 508 (patient must meet the criteria below)
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.
Ontario Limited Use criteria — code 505, 506, 507, 508
Reason for Use code 505 Confirmed chronic Hepatitis B infection in persons with - HBV DNA greater than or equal to 1000 IU/mL AND - ALT levels greater than ULN OR - Evidence of fibrosis or - Documented evidence of cirrhosis Coverage limit: LU Authorization Period: 1 year Reason for Use code 506 For patients with chronic Hepatitis B infection who have a contraindication, intolerance or inadequate response to one or more of the following: lamivudine, tenofovir, adefovir or telbivudine. Coverage limit: LU Authorization Period: 1 year Reason for Use code 507 Patients with chronic Hepatitis B infection currently receiving treatment with entecavir and requires treatment continuation. Coverage limit: LU Authorization Period: 1 year Reason for Use code 508 Patients with chronic Hepatitis B infection who are scheduled to undergo chemotherapy or significant immunosuppressive treatment. Coverage limit: LU Authorization Period: 1 year
Brand vs generic price
Lowest DBP recovery rule under medically necessary no-substitution claims: 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Side Effect Reporting Form will not have to be renewed. However, the pharmacy must maintain a copy of the prescription that contains a direction that there be no substitution and the required Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form (completed and signed by the prescriber). The prescriber must write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on renewal or subsequent new written prescriptions, and indicate “No Substitution” on subsequent new oral prescriptions. The dispenser will be reimbursed the DBP plus a mark-up and the lesser of the posted usual and customary fee or the ODB dispensing fee minus the applicable ODB co-payment amount. Where a completed Side Effect Reporting Form is not available at the pharmacy during an inspection, the difference between the cost of the higher-cost product and the lowest DBP listed for the interchangeable category will be recovered. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗) 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Ministry will provide reimbursement of a higher-cost interchangeable product in medically necessary circumstances where a patient has experienced a significant adverse reaction with two (2) lower-cost interchangeable drug products, where available. When a prescriber identifies a patient for which it is medically necessary that a higher cost interchangeable product be provided, the prescriber must: • Complete, sign and forward to the pharmacist a copy of the Health Canada side effect reporting form for each lower-cost interchangeable drug product trialed (Side Effect Reporting Form[s]); and • Write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on a written prescription or indicate “No Substitution” to the pharmacist in the case of a verbal prescription. The prescriber should keep a copy of the completed form in the patient’s record for future use and reference. In the case of a written prescription, when the pharmacist or dispensing physician receives a prescription with the written notation “No Substitution” or “No Sub”, reimbursement will be provided for the higher-cost interchangeable product only if the prescription is accompanied by a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed. This form must be completely filled out noting the details of the adverse reaction and signed by the prescriber. In the case of a verbal prescription, the prescriber must satisfy the operator of the pharmacy or dispensing physician that a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed has been completed and signed by the prescriber. A written record of this verbal prescription and the completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form must be received by the pharmacy prior to claim submission. Upon receipt, the pharmacist must: • Fax, submit online or mail the completed and signed form to Health Canada’s Canada Vigilance Program; and • Retain his or her copy of the completed and signed Side Effect Reporting Form. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗)
1 brand, same coverage
PMS-Entecavir · DIN 02430576 Manufacturer: Pharmascience Inc.; listing date 2014-10-29 Health Canada: Marketed since 2014-09-09 · brand PMS-ENTECAVIR · ATC J05AF10 ENTECAVIR · form Tablet · route Oral · ingredients ENTECAVIR 0.5 MG · company Pharmascience inc · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Ministry pays: $4.4000 per source unit.

Source explanation: The formulary price is what ODB pays; the cash price at the counter is set by the pharmacy.

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=91502 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02430576)

Source record
DIN 02430576: PMS-Entecavir Raw flags: sec12=Y, sec3=Y Item: 081800106; group id 85; item number 0153; lccId 00295; manufacturer id PMS Source form: Tab; strength: 0.5mg Recorded listing: Limited Use: paid only with a Reason for Use code and the criteria below Source prices (unrounded): $5.5000; ministry $4.4000 Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02430576 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=91502
Interchangeable products
Accel-Entecavir · DIN 02479907 · $4.4000 Apo-Entecavir · DIN 02396955 · $4.4000 Auro-Entecavir · DIN 02448777 · $4.4000 Baraclude · DIN 02282224 · $4.4000 Entecavir · DIN 02527154 · $4.4000 Jamp-Entecavir · DIN 02467232 · $4.4000 Mint-Entecavir · DIN 02485907 · $4.4000
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

ABACAVIR SULFATE

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

LAMIVUDINE

· 10 products · General benefit (7), Listed, not a benefit (1), Limited Use, codes 502, 503, 504 (2) · strengths: 10mg/mL, 100mg, 150mg, 300mg · O/L, Tab

TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE

· 1 products · Limited Use, codes 517, 518, 519, 520, 521 · strengths: 25mg · Tab

TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL

· 11 products · Limited Use, codes 517, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522 · strengths: 300mg · Tab

ADEFOVIR DIPIVOXIL

· 2 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 10mg · Tab

ZIDOVUDINE

· 2 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 100mg · Cap

ABACAVIR & LAMIVUDINE & ZIDOVUDINE

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

ABACAVIR SULFATE & LAMIVUDINE

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

ACYCLOVIR

· 15 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (13) · strengths: 200mg, 400mg, 800mg · 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 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.
What the Health Canada label says it is for
INDICATIONS AND CLINICAL USE BARACLUDE (entecavir) is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults with evidence of active viral replication and either evidence of persistent elevations in serum aminotransferases (ALT or AST) or histologically active disease. This indication is based on efficacy and safety data in nucleoside-treatment-naive and in lamivudine-refractory adult patients with HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection with compensated liver disease and on more limited data in adult patients with HIV/HBV co-infection who have received prior lamivudine therapy. https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00058046.PDF PM date: not printed or not captured Source product: BARACLUDE; DIN 02282224; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.