Randy Sutton

Health Canada consults on proposed guidelines for the use of electronic media in prescription drug labelling

By Sarah Pennington, John Greiss and Randy Sutton on March 18, 2021 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Health Canada is seeking input from industry stakeholders on a new draft guidance document that discusses the use of electronic media in prescription drug labelling. The intent of the draft guidance document is to describe Health Canada’s expectations for manufacturers who distribute prescription drug information through an electronic means, such as a website or mobile … Continue reading

Ontario lifts recommendation to limit prescription dispensing to 30 days’ supply

By John Greiss and Randy Sutton on June 17, 2020 Posted in Uncategorized

We previously reported on the Ontario government’s efforts to manage the risk of drug shortages in the early days of the pandemic. Those efforts included a recommendation that pharmacies dispense no more than a 30-days’ supply of medication to patients under the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program. Because the policy resulted in additional dispensing fees … Continue reading

Health Canada amends regulations to permit distribution of OTC and NHP samples to general public

By John Greiss and Randy Sutton on May 5, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences, Uncategorized

Health Canada has finalized amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) and Natural Health Product Regulations (NHPR) to allow for the distribution of samples of non-prescription drugs (NPDs, or “over-the-counter” (OTC) drugs) and natural health products (NHPs) to a larger scope of healthcare professionals as well as the general public. Previously, the distribution of … Continue reading

Health Canada releases Guidance Document addressing the Plain Language Labelling Regulations requirements for non-prescription drug products

By Sarah Pennington, John Greiss and Randy Sutton on April 15, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Health Canada recently published a new Guidance Document that provides information on how Health Canada interprets and applies the 2014 Regulations Amending the Food and Drug Regulations (Labelling, Packaging and Brand Names of Drugs for Human Use) (colloquially known as the Plain Language Labelling Regulations or PLL Regulations) for non-prescription (i.e. over-the-counter or OTC) drug … Continue reading

Health Canada issues Interim Order to address shortages of health products

By John Greiss, Randy Sutton and Brian R. Daley on April 13, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Health Canada has published an Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19 (the Interim Order). This Interim Order allows Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to address critical supply issues in an expedited manner when shortages occur. It was signed by the Minister … Continue reading

Ontario and Quebec Introduce Changes to Pharmacy Practice and Highlight the Drug Supply Chain as an Essential Service

By John Greiss, Randy Sutton and Brian R. Daley on March 25, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Changes Affecting Ontario The Government of Ontario has made changes to the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program in an effort to reduce the risk of drug shortages in the province during the COVID-19 outbreak. Effective immediately, ODB eligible drugs are subject to the following changes to rules on dispensing and fees: The dispensing of medication … Continue reading

COVID-19: Health Canada simplifies regulatory requirements for COVID-19-related products

By John Greiss, Randy Sutton and Kristin Wall on March 22, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Health Canada is taking measures to help expedite the importation and sale of certain licensed products required to combat COVID-19. Expedited review of Health Product Submissions and Applications Health Canada has announced that it will expedite the review of any COVID-19 related vaccines, therapeutic products and other health product submissions and applications. Until a vaccine … Continue reading

COVID-19: Sharing information for licensed health products during a pandemic

By John Greiss, Kristin Wall and Randy Sutton on March 17, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

The public health call for social distancing to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt already affected how companies will be sharing information about pharmaceuticals and other licensed health products with healthcare professionals (HCPs), patients, and the public. As industry plays its part in keeping sales representatives and medical science liaisons (MSLs) home to … Continue reading

COVID-19: Health Canada Issues Bulletin Confirming Obligations of DEL Holders

By John Greiss and Randy Sutton on March 5, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

In light of recent developments relating to the to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Health Canada recently sent a reminder to all Drug Establishment License (DEL) holders of their obligations under the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) regarding reporting of events that could affect operations and lead to shortages or issues affecting quality, safety, and … Continue reading

Ontario reduces restrictions on ordinary commercial term benefits and private label products

By William Chalmers, Randy Sutton and Allyson Whyte Nowak on December 17, 2019 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (the Ministry) introduced changes to regulations (collectively, the Regulations) made under the Ontario Drug Benefit Act (ODBA) and the Drug Interchangeability and Dispensing Fee Act (DIDFA). These changes will remove the financial caps on ordinary commercial term (OCT) payments made by drug manufacturers to pharmacies and allow … Continue reading

Ontario Introduces Legislation to Change Healthcare Administration

By Randy Sutton on March 1, 2019 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare

This week the Ontario government announced legislation that will overhaul the administration of healthcare delivery in Ontario. Bill 74 was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on February 26, 2019, and passed first reading. The bill creates the Connecting Care Act (the “Act”). The province’s 14 existing Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) and six other agencies … Continue reading

ONCA upholds dismissal of summary judgment in lansoprazole s. 8 case

By David Yi, Allyson Whyte Nowak and Randy Sutton on April 19, 2018 Posted in Intellectual property, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

As we reported, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company Limited and Takeda Pharmaceuticals America Inc. sought dismissal of Apotex’s action for s. 8 damages in the Ontario Superior Court by summary judgment. The Ontario Court of Appeal (ONCA) affirmed the lower court’s finding that a real-world notice of non-compliance – withdrawal (NON-W) issued by Health … Continue reading

Ontario Health Sector Payment Transparency Act, 2017 – Draft Regulation Published for Consultation

By Randy Sutton on February 22, 2018 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare

As we reported, Ontario passed the Health Sector Payment Transparency Act, 2017 (Bill 160) in December 2017, which will require those defined as “payors” – such as pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors – to disclose financial relationships with healthcare professionals and organizations to the government. On February 21, 2018, the Ontario Government … Continue reading