Enhanced Cardiovascular Care Available to New Brunswick Patients Thanks to Horizon, Amgen Canada Research Partnership

(SAINT JOHN) – Horizon Health Network (Horizon) and its New Brunswick Heart Centre, together with Amgen Canada Inc., are proud to announce a groundbreaking research project aimed at improving outcomes for New Brunswick patients, especially those without a primary care provider, by integrating pharmacist-led multidisciplinary teams into cardiovascular care.

Amgen, a global biotechnology company dedicated to innovative human therapeutics, is providing funding to support Heart Centre staff continually integrate the latest medical advancements into essential follow-up care¹ for cardiovascular patients, particularly those who have experienced heart attacks or other acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Many of these patients are not attached to a primary care provider, which may create challenges when it comes to managing their cardiovascular disease and reducing their risk of future complications².

“This collaboration is a key step in ensuring patients at the New Brunswick Heart Centre receive the best possible follow-up care in line with the latest evidence-based guidelines¹, optimized through the integration of multidisciplinary teams, including pharmacists, nurses and specialists,” said Jennifer Sheils, Horizon’s Vice President Strategy, Transformation and Chief Innovation Officer. “By leveraging both organizations’ expertise we aim to provide a program which will better use healthcare resources in a cost-efficient manner, improve seamless delivery of care, complement the delivery of care, and reduce the risk of rehospitalization³, ultimately benefiting both patients and the healthcare system as a whole.⁴”

At the core of the project is a pharmacist-led cardiovascular clinic co-sponsored by Amgen and HLS Therapeutics, a speciality pharmaceutical company focused on addressing unmet needs in the treatment of and cardiovascular disease.

“Patients recovering from heart attacks typically require multiple medications⁵, and their treatment regimens are often complex⁶,” said Dr. Krystyna Edwards-Lee, Clinical Resource Pharmacist, Cardiology at Horizon, and project lead. “Pharmacist-led clinics for chronic disease management, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, have been established in other provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia⁷. This will be the first care model of its kind for New Brunswick that includes a clinical pharmacist for optimizing secondary prevention medications for high-risk patients, focusing on patients without access to a primary care provider.”

“At Amgen Canada, we are dedicated to advancing predict-and-prevent solutions that transform patient care and drive better health outcomes,” said Dr. Daniel Martinez, Executive Medical Director, Amgen Canada. “This pilot project underscores our commitment to integrating cutting-edge medical advancements at the pharmacy level, ensuring high-risk cardiovascular patients receive the proactive, continuous care they need. By equipping pharmacists to lead within a collaborative, multidisciplinary framework, we can enhance secondary prevention strategies and make a significant impact in reducing cardiovascular events.”

Horizon and Amgen Canada are committed to improving the health and well-being of New Brunswick residents through innovation and collaboration. This partnership reflects the ongoing effort to provide the best possible care for all patients, particularly those with complex conditions who may not otherwise receive the necessary follow-up.

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 New Brunswick Heart Centre
Located at the Saint John Regional Hospital (SJRH) in Saint John, New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Heart Centre is the province’s only tertiary cardiac care centre. The NBHA treats close to a million Atlantic Canadians, with an annual cardiac surgery volume of over 900 cases and growing, spanning the full spectrum of cardiac surgery. It has a well-established and collaborative “Heart Team” that strives to provide modern cardiac surgical care to address valvular heart disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and aortic conditions including endovascular approaches. Whether developing new treatments, improving detection techniques or saving lives on the operating table, NBHC’s singular focus is on improving the level of care available to patients in New Brunswick.

About Amgen Canada
As a leader in innovation, Amgen Canada understands the value of science. With main operations located in Mississauga, Ontario’s vibrant biomedical cluster, and its research facility in Burnaby, B.C., Amgen Canada has been an important contributor to advancements in science and innovation in Canada since 1991. The company contributes to the development of new therapies and new ways of using existing medicines in partnership with many of Canada’s leading healthcare, academic, research, government and patient organizations. To learn more about Amgen Canada, visit www.amgen.ca and follow us on X @amgencanadagm.

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Enhanced Cardiovascular Care Available to New Brunswick Patients Thanks to Horizon, Amgen Canada Research Partnership

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