A new drug named tolvaptan has been approved for use in Canada for the treatment of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. Tolvaptan blocks a hormone called vasopressin. Vasopressin does many things in the body such as helping it retain water. It is also one of many factors that leads to growth of kidney cysts in patients with ADPKD.
Based on current studies, not all people with ADPKD are good candidates for treatment with tolvaptan. If you have ADPKD, you and your nephrologist can decide whether tolvaptan is a good treatment for you based on your individual characteristics. For more information on this drug, please download the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document on tolvaptan found below.
At this time, tolvaptan is not funded by either BC PharmaCare or the BC Renal Agency. Some private insurers may pay for tolvaptan when treatment is indicated; if you and your nephrologist are considering treatment with tolvaptan, this is something you can discuss. It is not unusual for a new drug not to be funded right away. The BC Renal Agency is playing an active role in evaluating this new drug and determining where it may fit into the overall care of ADPKD in BC.