Vol. 5 No. 7 (2025)
Reimbursement Recommendations

Naloxegol

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Published July 18, 2025

Key Messages

  • The Formulary Management Expert Committee (FMEC) recommends that naloxegol be reimbursed for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in adult patients with either cancer pain or noncancer pain, who have inadequate response to laxative(s) provided certain conditions are met.
  • Naloxegol should only be covered to treat patients who are receiving chronic, stable opioid therapy and report fewer than 3 spontaneous bowel movements per week despite the use of combination laxative therapy, including a stimulant laxative and an osmotic laxative, and do not have infiltrative gastrointestinal tract malignancies or peritoneal metastases.
  • Based on the Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) assessment of the health economic evidence, it is unknown whether naloxegol represents good value to the health care system at the public list price. A price reduction may therefore be required.