New study led by Horizon and supported by Roche Canada delivers cancer treatment in the comfort of a patient's home
The project originated with a research study led by Horizon medical oncologists Dr. Mahmoud Abdelsalam, Dr. Luisa Galvis and Dr. James Michael whereby New Brunswick patients diagnosed with certain types of lung cancer receive Health Canada-authorized subcutaneous cancer immunotherapy at home, administered by nurses from Medavie's New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program. The initiative was formally announced by the New Brunswick delegation during the annual BIO International Convention in June 2024 in San Diego, California, and the first treatment milestone occurred in New Brunswick this past March.
'This trial marks a turning point in lung cancer care—bringing treatment from the hospital to patients' homes, where they are most comfortable,' said Dr. Abdelsalam, who served as principal investigator of the research initiative. 'We are proud to lead this Canadian-first trial from New Brunswick, showing that innovation in health care can start right here at home, improving the quality of care for New Brunswickers.'
The study was initially designed to bring care closer to communities. However, Dr. Abdelsalam challenged the team to go further — to 'close the last mile' by delivering modern cancer therapies directly to patients' homes.
Previously, patients travelled to hospital-based infusion centres for intravenous cancer treatments, often spending at least 30 to 60 minutes per visit. The new subcutaneous injection reduces treatment time to about seven minutes, offering a more convenient, less invasive option that minimizes disruptions to patients' daily life, reduces the strain on health care providers, and increases capacity in the health care system.
'The reality is, if patients must leave their communities, take time off work, arrange childcare or organize transportation, it disrupts their lives significantly,' said Jennifer Sheils, Horizon's Vice-President of Strategy, Transformation and Chief Innovation Officer. 'They occupy IV therapy hospital chairs, require nursing and pharmacy resources and often face the challenge of travelling home while feeling unwell. These impacts extend beyond the treatment day and can affect their overall well-being and financial stability.'
As industry partners like Roche Canada introduce new therapies that move beyond traditional IV delivery, Horizon is leading the way in rethinking cancer care by putting patient needs first and helping to build a more efficient, responsive health care system.
Key benefits of an injection (subcutaneous) formulation to the patient, compared to traditional IV formulations, can include:
'The challenges faced by healthcare systems in Canada have never been greater. Horizon Health's outstanding leadership shows that transforming this system is possible. By thinking differently about how we collaborate, we can deliver better care to patients and their families. We are very proud to partner with Horizon Health on this project, which will help ensure all patients have access to the best innovation in healthcare, when they need it - a key part of Roche's vision,' said Dr. Dan Edgcumbe, Vice President of Medical and Regulatory Affairs at Roche Pharma Canada. 'This experience will help us all better understand the full value of healthcare innovation to provide more accessible, flexible care options while expanding healthcare system capacity.'
Through this partnership, patients now have the choice to receive injections at home, reducing disruption to their daily lives and alleviating pressures on hospital resources. This innovative model empowers patients while supporting a more efficient and patient-centered health care system.
This approach is also expected to improve health system operations by reducing pressure on infusion clinics, increasing treatment capacity, optimizing workflow and potentially lowering overall costs per patient.
Horizon hopes health care systems across Canada will look to this example as a model for accelerating patient-centred innovation. Advancing research and adopting new approaches to care delivery will be critical to building a more sustainable health care system.
Horizon is committed to fostering a culture of improving patient outcomes through research and innovation initiatives like this one. Each year, Horizon Research Services supports approximately 117 clinical trials for new treatments and solutions, along with nearly 307 investigator-led studies advancing health care knowledge and practice.
Patients interested in participating in this study, referred to as Subcutaneous Treatment with Immunotherapy for Cancer Patients at Home, or STITCH-01, or another Horizon research study are encouraged to complete a research application form, available on the Horizon website.
About Horizon Health Network
Horizon Health Network is the largest regional health authority – and one of the largest employers – in New Brunswick, and the second-largest health authority in Atlantic Canada. Our leadership and health care providers are experts in diverse areas of health and community services and provide services to a half a million people. The organization has an annual budget of approximately $1.4 billion and has more than 14,000 employees, 1,242 physicians and 1,300 volunteers, as well as 17 foundations and 16 auxiliaries and alumnae organizations.
About Roche Canada
At Roche Canada, patients and science are at the heart of everything we do. Our passion for science and our commitment to relentlessly pursuing the impossible for patients have made us one of the world's leading pharmaceutical, in-vitro diagnostics, and diabetes care management companies.
With our combined strength in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals, we're driving healthcare forward, while ensuring we deliver meaningful benefits for patients and sustainable healthcare systems. We are committed to creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love.
And we're adding our expertise in new areas, such as artificial intelligence, real world data collection and analysis and collaborating with many different sectors and industries.
Having the courage to reinvent ourselves and question the status quo is what patients and healthcare systems expect from Roche - and our commitment is as strong today as it was on the first day of our Canadian journey in 1931. Today, Roche Canada employs nearly 2,000 people at its offices in Mississauga, Ontario, in Laval, Quebec, and across the country from coast to coast to coast.
For more information, please visit www.RocheCanada.com or follow Roche Canada on LinkedIn.
About ResearchNB
ResearchNB is the province's research and innovation enabler. With offices in Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton, it provides New Brunswick's research sector with critical leadership and support including advocacy, initial funding, connections to potential partners, and the translation of science into economic opportunities. Projects developed in partnership with ResearchNB help New Brunswickers to thrive through research that leads to new, innovative business practices and products.
About New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program
The New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program (EMP) delivers primary health care services to New Brunswickers of all ages in their homes and communities. EMP, known by many as the 'hospital without walls', includes a team of over 850 professionals who provide quality home health care services to eligible residents when their needs can be met safely in the community. EMP operates on a client and family centered model with a focus on building and maintaining partnerships with clients and their families, physicians, agencies, departments and other service providers to best meet patient needs.
SOURCE Hoffmann-La Roche Limited (Roche Canada)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Air Canada-CUPE Negotiations End in Impasse
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 16, 2025-- Negotiations between CUPE and Air Canada have ended in impasse. Air Canada still refuses to compensate flight attendants for all hours worked. The union has been firm: all safety-related duties should be paid at full hourly rate. Air Canada does not agree. On wages, Air Canada's last offer will still leave flight attendants living below poverty levels for many years to come. We are heartbroken for our passengers. We do not want to go on strike, and we do not want to be locked out, but it is clear that Air Canada has no incentive to bargain. Rather, Air Canada has refused to bargain in good faith due to the likelihood of the federal government using Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to interfere in negotiations and have a contract imposed by an outside third-party arbitrator. View source version on CONTACT: Hugh Pouliot CUPE Media Relations (EN) [email protected] 613-818-0067Nathalie Garceau CUPE Media Relations (FR) [email protected] 514-594-2747 KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT AIR TRANSPORT TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY GROUP OPINION LABOR TRAVEL SOURCE: Canadian Union of Public Employees Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 08/16/2025 01:30 AM/DISC: 08/16/2025 01:30 AM
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Air Canada flight attendants walk off the job as strike begins
More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants went on strike as of 12:58 a.m. ET Saturday, after the airline and the union representing them failed to reach a deal ahead of the deadline. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, or CUPE, gave a 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday after midnight. Air Canada responded shortly after by saying it would lock out workers, and began winding down operations on Thursday with a gradual suspension of flights. With a work stoppage now in effect, Air Canada estimates that 130,000 customers will be affected each day of a strike, a figure that includes 25,000 Canadian travellers who are abroad. The strike began after talks between CUPE and Air Canada reached an impasse, with wages and ground pay — which compensates flight attendants for work while the plane is grounded — among the key sticking points keeping the parties from reaching a deal. Earlier this week, Air Canada formally proposed to CUPE that the parties use binding arbitration to negotiate the renewal of a 10-year collective agreement that expired in March. CUPE declined to use arbitration, a process that would have an arbitrator render a decision about specific items the parties can't agree on. CUPE has maintained it wants to stay at the negotiating table and have the two sides come to an agreement themselves. Air Canada asked federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu to make a referral under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to send the negotiations to binding interest arbitration. Hajdu gave CUPE until noon on Friday to respond, and they declined. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Reduced capacity at health centre in Pelly Crossing, Yukon, until early September
The health centre in Pelly Crossing, Yukon, will be operating at reduced capacity until Sept. 3, while it only has one nurse on staff. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Selkirk First Nation informed its citizens that the health centre would have reduced services from Aug. 14 to Sept. 3, sharing a notice from the Yukon government. Nigel Allan with Yukon Health and Social Services said the nurse will prioritize emergencies during this time. Non-urgent health care needs, like preventative care or other things that can wait, might need to be rescheduled he said. The reduction in services comes on the heels of a week of reduced service earlier this month when the centre was also operating with only one nurse. The health centre was also closed for several weeks in the spring, and for a day-and-a-half last winter, because no nurses were available. Allan said the Yukon, like many other places in Canada is "dealing with a health HR crisis." "As part of our health HR strategy, we're continuing efforts to recruit health-care providers, including nurses." Allan said nurses working in community health centres often need specialized training to respond to urgent situations, which can make it harder to recruit them. The Yukon government's notice says in emergencies, Pelly residents can call 867-821-444, use the phone outside the health centre or dial 911. For non-emergencies, they can call 811.
