Limited coverage criteria – tofacitinib for ulcerative colitis

Last updated on July 17, 2025

Return to Special Authority drug list   

Tofacitinib coverage transition

PharmaCare is transitioning tofacitinib coverage from the brand name product Xeljanz® to generic tofacitinib products. According to Health Canada, generic drugs are pharmaceutically equivalent to brand name drugs; they contain the identical medicinal ingredients, in the same amounts and in a similar dosage form. 

To maintain coverage, patients currently covered for the brand name product Xeljanz must transition to a generic tofacitinib product. PharmaCare is providing six-month transitional coverage ending January 15, 2026, to allow time for patients to switch.For patients with existing Xeljanz Special Authority approval, the generic tofacitinib products will automatically be covered; prescribers do not need to submit a new Special Authority request until the next scheduled renewal date (if applicable). 

Coverage transition timeline

July 16, 2025 July 16, 2025, to January 15, 2026 January 16, 2026
All new Special Authority requests, including renewals, for tofacitinib will only be approved for the generic brand products. The brand product Xeljanz will not be approved for new Special Authority requests, including renewals.  To maintain coverage, patients with existing Xeljanz Special Authority approval must transition to the generic brand of tofacitinib within the six-month transition period. Xeljanz is no longer a PharmaCare benefit and only the generic tofacitinib products are covered. 

Special Authority requests for patients who are unable to transition to any formulation of generic tofacitinib will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Prescribers can submit HLTH 5861 – Tofacitinib patient list request (PDF, 968KB) form to request a list of their patients who are receiving PharmaCare coverage for Xeljanz so they can contact them to start the switch. PharmaCare will not be offering patient support fees for the transition.

Patient support programs

For patients transitioning to a generic tofacitinib product, a different patient support program is available. PharmaCare coverage is not tied to participation in a patient support program. 

Generic manufacturer Patient support program (PSP)
Taro (taro-tofacitinib)

Sun360
Tel: 1-800-268-1975
Fax: 1-866-712-0001
Email: info@sun360psp.ca
Website: https://www.sun360psp.ca/for-patients/taro-tofacitinib

PharmaScience (PMS-tofacitinib)

Tel: 1-888-255-9777
Fax: 1-833-350-3886
Email: tofacitinib@allypsp.ca
Website:

JAMP (JAMP-tofacitinib)

JAMP Care
Tel: 1-855-517-0710 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm EST)
Fax: 1-855-437-1490
Email: immunology@jampcarepsp.ca
Website: https://jampcare-support.ca/  

Auro (Auro-tofacitinib) Auro generics are available; please follow up with them for their PSP information. Their general contact information is provided below:

Tel: 1-905-856-8063 Ext: 242
Fax: 1-905 856-8094
Email: cs@auropharma.ca
Website: https://auropharma.ca

 For questions or concerns, please contact the Formulary Management team by email at FM.GenericMailbox@gov.bc.ca.

decorative divider

Generic name

tofacitinib

Strength & form

5 mg, 10 mg tablet

Special Authority criteria

Approval period

For the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC), according to criteria detailed in HLTH 5388 (Initial/Switch) (PDF, 657KB) or HLTH 5497 (Renewal) (PDF, 653KB),

AND

When a Special Authority request is submitted by a gastroenterologist

Initial: 8 weeks

Renewal: 1 year

Practitioner exemptions

  • None

Special notes

  • PharmaCare covers a maximum 30 days' supply per fill
  • Coverage is limited to 10 mg twice daily dosing for 8 weeks (loading doses) then 5 mg twice daily dosing thereafter
  • Cannot be used in combination with biologic drugs for ulcerative colitis

Special Authority request form(s)