On November 28, 2024, the Federal Court updated its guidelines for proceedings under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations (PMNOC Regulations) and other complex proceedings. While the changes are not extensive, they create some new obligations and
Pharmaceuticals and life sciences
Pharmacare: Committee of Experts established



On November 14, 2024, the Government of Canada announced the establishment of a Committee of Experts as the next step in its implementation of a national pharmacare program. The Committee is tasked with providing the Government with practical advice on…
Pharmacare Act becomes law in Canada



On October 10, 2024, Canada’s federal government passed legislation that will introduce pharmacare, a program of national universal drug coverage. The federal government must now take steps to implement the first phase of pharmacare, including reaching agreements with the provinces…
Pharmacare: BC first to announce partnership with federal government



On September 12, 2024, the Governments of Canada and of the Province of British Columbia (BC) announced partnering to provide universal access to contraception, diabetes medication, and hormone replacement therapy. The Canada-BC Memorandum of Understanding is the first…
Drug pricing: PMPRB launches next phase of the Guidelines consultation


The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) has released a new Discussion Guide for consultation on new price review Guidelines. The Discussion Guide outlines a proposed new price review process and requests stakeholder feedback on several specific topics…
CADTH to Transform into Canada’s Drug Agency
Canada’s Drug and Health Technology Agency (CADTH) has announced that, as of May 1, 2024, its new operating name will be Canada’s Drug Agency / l’Agence des médicaments du Canada (CDA-AMC). The official launch will occur…
Pharmacare Update: Budget 2024



Drug price negotiations: pCPA Temporary Access Process launched



The pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) has launched its Temporary Access Process (pTAP) to facilitate early market access to new drugs that were assessed under the time-limited reimbursement recommendation (TLR) pathway at the Canada Drug…
National Pharmacare bill tabled



On February 29, 2024, the federal government tabled Bill C-64, An Act respecting pharmacare (the Pharmacare Act). The Pharmacare Act outlines the “foundational principles” for the first phase of a national universal drug coverage plan in Canada. The legislation…
Federal Court of Appeal clarifies law on patentability of methods of medical treatment
The Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) has held that in order to determine whether a patent claims an unpatentable method of medical treatment (MMT), it is necessary to determine whether the use of the invention requires…