The reimbursement criteria for Symbicort^® (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) on the Quebec formulary will read:

	·	For the treatment of asthma and other reversible obstructive airways diseases in individuals with inadequate control of the disease despite using an inhaled corticosteroid.
	·	For the treatment of individuals with moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that is not controlled despite using a short-acting beta-2 agonist, a long-acting beta-2 agonist and an anticholinergic via inhalation.

For the above-mentioned medical conditions, in order to facilitate
the continuation of treatments already started in the case of seasonal asthma, individuals covered by the RAMQ, who were reimbursed
for a combination of formoterol fumarate dihydrate/budesonide or salmeterol xinafoate/fluticasone proprionate within 365 days prior to
October 1, 2003, will be eligible for continuation of their treatment.

Symbicort^® is available in 200/6 µg and 100/6 µg strengths.

For more information about asthma, please visit our website at www.AstraZenecaPharmacyEducation.com or contact Customer Relations at 1-800-668-6000 between 8:00am and 5:00pm EST from Monday to Friday.

Janssen-Ortho Inc. is pleased to inform you that effective
February 1st 2004, the following RISPERDAL M-TAB formulations have been listed as full benefit on the Alberta Health and Wellness
Drug Benefit List and Saskatchewan Prescription Drug Plan Formulary:

	·	0.5 mg M-TAB1
	·	1 mg M-TAB1
	·	2 mg M-TAB1

Should you have any questions on the use of RISPERDAL M-TAB in your patient population, please refer to the RISPERDAL Prescribing Information for further details or contact Janssen-Ortho Medical Information Services at 1-800-567-3331.

Reference:
1. RISPERDAL Product Monograph, JANSSEN-ORTHO Inc., November 28, 2003.

*All trademark rights used under license
© 2004 JANSSEN-ORTHO Inc.
RDM041009A

Janssen-Ortho Inc. is pleased to inform you that RISPERDAL formulations have been listed as full benefit on the Nova Scotia Formulary.

Effective December 1, 2003 - RISPERDAL formulations currently available:
	·	0.25 mg tablets1
	·	0.5 mg tablets1
	·	1 mg tablets1
	·	2 mg tablets1
	·	3 mg tablets1
	·	4 mg tablets1
	·	1 mg / mL oral solution1
Effective January 1, 2004 - RISPERDAL M-TAB formulations available:
	·	0.5 mg M-TAB1
	·	1 mg M-TAB1
	·	2 mg M-TAB1

The above RISPERDAL formulations have full benefit listing and
no longer require special authorization for coverage. Should you
have any questions on the use of RISPERDAL in your patient population, please refer to the RISPERDAL Prescribing Information
for further details or contact Janssen-Ortho Medical Information Services at 1-800-567-3331.

Reference:
1. RISPERDAL Product Monograph, JANSSEN-ORTHO Inc., November 28, 2003.

*All trademark rights used under license
© 2004 JANSSEN-ORTHO Inc.
RDM041009A

AstraZeneca Canada Inc. announces the Saskatchewan Formulary has implemented revised Exception Drug Status criteria for
Losec^® 20 mg tablet. Criteria b) and c) will now read:

	b)	for the treatment of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It was noted that patients with non-erosive GERD could potentially be reduced to step-down therapy with an H2 antagonist depending on symptom resolution.
	c)	for the treatment of severe erosive esophagitis and Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome.

Please visit our web site www.AstraZenecaPharmacyEducation.com
to review an accredited educational program on dyspepsia.

Or contact Customer Relations at 1-800-668-6000 between
8:00am and 5:00pm EST from Monday to Friday.

AstraZeneca Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that Crestor^® (rosuvastatin calcium) 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablets are reimbursed as full benefits by British Columbia Pharmacare.

For more information about Crestor^® and to earn continuing education credits for dyslipidemia, please visit our web site at www.AstraZenecaPharmacyEducation.com or contact
Customer Relations at 1-800-668-6000 between
8:00am and 5:00pm EST from Monday to Friday.

Merck Frosst/Schering Pharmaceuticals is pleased to advise you
that ^PrEZETROL™ (ezetimibe) is now included as an Exception Status drug benefit in the Nova Scotia Provincial Formulary, effective
January 1, 2004, with the following criteria:

For the treatment of hypercholesterolemia,

•	as adjunctive therapy with statins, in patients who have not
	reached treatment goals on maximum tolerated statin therapy
	alone, or
•	as monotherapy, in patients who are intolerant to statins
	and fibrates.

Exception status authorization for these criteria will be granted
long term. All requests for EZETROL™ must be completed
using the Nova Scotia Provincial Pharmacare Programs - Request for Coverage of Exception Drug Status Form, which is available at http://www.gov.ns.ca/health/pharmacare/esd.htm.
For additional information, please call our Customer Information Centre at 1-866-EZETROL (1-866-393-8765).

^TM Trademark used under license.

02-11-04

Merck Frosst/Schering Pharmaceuticals is pleased to advise you that ^PrEZETROL™ (ezetimibe) is now included as a Full Formulary
drug benefit on the Saskatchewan Provincial Formulary, effective
February 1, 2004.

For additional information, please call our Customer Information Centre at 1-866-EZETROL (1-866-393-8765).

^TM Trademark used under licence.

02-11-04

Pfizer Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that as of November 10^th, 2003, BEXTRA* 10 mg and 20 mg once-daily tablet formulation, a powerful analgesic anti-inflammatory, has been added to the British Columbia PharmaCare Program as a Limited Coverage Drug with the following special authority criteria:

1.	Diagnosis of osteoarthritis
	PLUS
	trial of acetaminophen
	PLUS
	treatment failure or intolerance to at least one of the following:
	ASA-enteric, ibuprofen or naproxen
	PLUS
	treatment failure or intolerance to at least three of the following:
	diclofenac, diflunisal, fenoprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen,
	salsalate, nabumetone, piroxicam, sulindac, tenoxicam,
	tiaprofenic, tolmetin or meloxicam.

OR

2.	Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
	PLUS
	treatment failure or intolerance to at least one of the following:
	ASA-enteric, ibuprofen, naproxen:
	PLUS
	treatment failure or intolerance to at least three of the following:
	diclofenac, diflunisal, fenoprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen,
	salsalate, nabumetone, piroxicam, sulindac, tenoxicam, tiaprofenic
	tolmetin or meloxicam.

For further information please contact BC PharmaCare at
1-800-554-0250 or visit the website. http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/pharme/sa/criteria/restricted/
valdecoxib.html

BEXTRA is an analgesic anti-inflammatory COXIB^‡ indicated for acute and chronic treatment of the signs and symptoms of adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), as well as relief of pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea (PD).

‡	COXIB is the designation conferred by the World Health Organization
	(WHO designations, October 2002). At present, there are only three members
	of this category: celecoxib, rofecoxib and valdecoxib.

© 2004
*TM Pharmacia Enterprises S.A. Pfizer Canada Inc., licensee

02-11-04

Merck Frosst/Schering Pharmaceuticals is pleased to advise
you that ^PrEZETROL™ (ezetimibe) is now included as a Special Authorization drug benefit in the Alberta Health and Wellness Drug Benefit List, effective January 1, 2004, with the following criteria:

For the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in patients who are intolerant to statins or in whom a statin is contraindicated and who are at high cardiovascular risk as defined by possessing
one of the following:

1.	Pre-existing cardiovascular disease and/or cerebrovascular disease, or
2.	Diabetes, or
3.	Familial hypercholesterolemia, or
4.	Three or more of the following risk factors:
	• Family history of premature cardiovascular disease
	• Smoking	• Hypertension	• Obesity
	• Glucose intolerance	• Renal disease

OR

For the treatment of hypercholesterolemia when used in combination with a statin in patients failing to achieve target
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (<2.5 mmol/L) with a statin at a maximum tolerable dose or maximum recommended dose as per the respective product monograph and who are at high cardiovascular risk as defined by possessing one of the following:

1.	Pre-existing cardiovascular disease and/or cerebrovascular disease, or
2.	Diabetes, or
3.	Familial hypercholesterolemia, or
4.	Three or more of the following risk factors:
	• Family history of premature cardiovascular disease
	• Smoking	• Hypertension	• Obesity
	• Glucose intolerance	• Renal disease

Special authorization for these criteria may be granted for 24
months. All requests for EZETROL™ must be completed using
the EZETROL™ Special Authorization Form (ABC 30925) which is available at http://www.ab.bluecross.ca/dbl/forms.html.

For additional information, please call our Customer Information Centre at 1-866-EZETROL (1-866-393-8765).

TM Trademark used under license.

01-14-04

Allergan is pleased to inform you that LUMIGAN™ (bimatoprost) ophthalmic solution 0.03% will be insured as a full benefit by the
Nova Scotia Pharmacare Program, effective January 1^st 2004.

LUMIGAN™ is indicated for the reduction of elevated
intraocular pressure in patients with open angle glaucoma
or ocular hypertension who are intolerant or insufficiently
responsive to another intraocular pressure lowering medication.

LUMIGAN™ is offered in 3 ml, 5 ml and 7.5 ml bottles.

For more information please contact Allergan's Customer Relations department at 1-800-668-6424.

Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. and Pfizer Canada Inc. are
pleased to announce that ^PrSPIRIVA^® is now available
with special authorization by the
Alberta Health and Wellness Drug Benefit List (AHWDBL)

Availablility of Dosage Forms
Generic Name	DIN	Format	Cost
Tiotropium bromide monohydrate	02246793	Carton of 30 SPIRIVA capsules (3 blister cards) and one HandiHaler® device	$63.00

All requests for Spiriva must be completed using the Spiriva Special Authorization Requests Form (ABC 30926) http://www.ab.bluecross.ca/dbl/pdfs/30926.pdf

Janssen-Ortho is pleased to announce that all of the private insurers throughout Canada have reviewed CONCERTA and now include it on the majority of their formularies.

Almost all patients with private insurance will have access to reimbursement for CONCERTA. Rarely a patient with private insurance will not have access to reimbursement. Feel confident that the majority of your patients with private insurance will have access to reimbursement for CONCERTA.

Employers make the final decision on what type of plan or occasionally which specific drugs they reimburse. Due to this some patients may not have access to CONCERTA reimbursement. Patients whose private insurance will not pay for CONCERTA, should contact their employers human resources department and request that CONCERTA be added as a benefit. If requested, Janssen-Ortho will provide an information package directly to the employer to assist in considering the addition of CONCERTA as a benefit.

For more information regarding CONCERTA, please call
1-800-567-5667.

AstraZeneca Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that the criteria for Symbicort^® (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) and Oxeze^® Turbuhaler^® (formoterol fumarate dehydrate) has been updated on the Nova Scotia Pharmacare Program under Exception Status as follows:

- for the treatment of moderate to severe asthma in patients who:
i)	are compliant with inhaled corticosteroids at a dose of any one of the following:
		- >500 mcg/day CFC-beclomethasone dipropionate - >400 mcg/day budesonide - >250 mcg/day HFA-beclomethasone dipropionate or - >250 mcg/day fluticasone propionate and
ii)	require additional symptom control, e.g., cough, awakening at night, missing activities such as school, work, social activities, because of asthma symptoms; and
iii)	require increasing amounts of short-acting beta2-agonists, indicative of poor control.
-	for the treatment of moderate** to severe** chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), if a patient continues to be symptomatic after an adequate trial (2-4 months) of ipratropium at a dose of 4 puffs four times daily and short-acting beta2-agonists, indicative of poor control.

**Canadian Thoracic Society COPD Classification
By Symptom/Disability:
Moderate - shortness of breath from COPD causing the patient to stop after walking about 100 meters (or after a few minutes) on the level.
Severe - shortness of breath from COPD resulting in the patient being too breathless to leave the house or breathless after undressing, or the presence of chronic respiratory failure or clinical signs of right heart failure.

By Lung Function:
Moderate - FEV₁ 40-59% predicted, FEV<₁/FVC <0.7
Severe - FEV₁ <40% predicted, FEV₁/FVC <0.7

Symbicort^® is available in 200/6 µg and 100/6 µg strengths.

For more information about asthma, please visit our web site at www.astrazenecapharmacyeducation.com or contact AstraZeneca Customer Relations at 1-800-668-6000 between 8:00am to 5:00pm EST from Monday to Friday.

AstraZeneca Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that Seroquel^® (quetiapine fumarate) 25mg, 100mg, 150mg, 200mg, 300mg tablets has received full benefits status for both General Practitioners and Specialists on the Nova Scotia Pharmacare Program Benefit List.

AstraZeneca Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that CRESTOR^® (rosuvastatin calcium) 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablets
will be reimbursed as full benefits within the Non-Insured
Health Benefits (NIHB) Program.

For more information about CRESTOR and to earn continuing education credits for dyslipidemia, please visit our web site at www.AstraZenecaPharmacyEducation.com or contact
Customer Relations at 1-800-668-6000 between 8:00am and 5:00pm EST from Monday to Friday.

Allergan is pleased to inform you that LUMIGAN™ (bimatoprost) ophthalmic solution 0.03% has been added as an eligible benefit under the Pharmacare Program. Effective November 18^th 2003, any patient eligible for assistance through the province of British Columbia, who has been prescribed LUMIGAN™ (bimatoprost) ophthalmic solution 0.03%, will be reimbursed by Pharmacare.

AstraZeneca Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that CRESTOR^® (rosuvastatin calcium) 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablets will
be reimbursed as full benefits within the
Veterans Affairs Canada Formulary.

For more information about CRESTOR and to earn continuing education credits for dyslipidemia, please visit our web site at www.AstraZenecaPharmacyEducation.com or contact
Customer Relations at 1-800-668-6000 between 8:00am to 5:00pm EST from Monday to Friday.

AstraZeneca Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that CRESTOR^® (rosuvastatin calcium) 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablets will be reimbursed as full benefits within the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program (NLPDP).

AstraZeneca Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that Symbicort^® (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) is listed on the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program (NLPDP) under the special authorization process with the following criteria:

-	for patients in whom a combination of an inhaled steroid and long- acting beta agonist is desirable due to the failure of optimal doses of inhaled steroids (failure defined as the need for frequent use of inhaled short-acting bronchodilators)
-	for patients already receiving inhaled steroid therapy in combination with a long-acting beta agonist (approved for NLPDP coverage) in whom a combination product is more desirable.

NIHB Plavix (clopidogrel) is listed as a full benefit.
Ontario Plavix is listed on the Ontario Drug Benefit List as a Limited Use product for 12 months for:
•	patients immediately post-hospitalization for non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
•	patients immediately pre- or post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
Plavix may also be obtained under the Section 8 mechanism for:
•	ACS and PCI patients requiring renewals beyond 12 months
•	Secondary prevention of vascular ischemic events in patients treated with ASA, ticlopidine or those who are intolerant or allergic to ASA or ticlopidine
•	Other indications (considered on a case-by-case basis)
Saskatchewan Plavix is available under exceptional drug status for the following indications:
•	Secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events
•	Acute coronary syndromes (without ST segment elevation) for 12 months
•	Post intra coronary stent placement for 12 months