Healthcare & Life Sciences

Proposed Practice Directions on Mode of Hearings, Document Exchange, Motions, Filing, AI Use, Virtual Proceedings

The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) is consulting on seven proposed practice directions to modernize its hearing procedures. The directions address mode of hearings (defaulting to paper hearings for evidentiary portions), document exchange facilitation, motion standardization, electronic filing and page limits, expedited failure-to-file proceedings, use of artificial intelligence in proceedings, and virtual proceedings. Stakeholders may submit comments on these proposed directions.

2024 PMPRB Annual Report Shows $22.1B Patented Medicine Sales

The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) has tabled its 2024 Annual Report in Parliament. The report documents $22.1 billion in sales of patented medicines in Canada for the reporting period. PMPRB continues its role as Canada's federal board responsible for reviewing patented medicine prices to ensure they are not excessive.

Public Drug Plan Spending Rose $3.4B Over 5 Years Driven by High-Cost Drugs

The PMPRB released its CompassRx 10th edition report showing Canadian public drug plan prescription spending grew 7.4% in 2022/23 to $14.1 billion from $13.2 billion in 2021/22. Over five years (2017/18 to 2022/23), total spending rose by $3.4 billion with a compound annual growth rate of 5.9%. Drugs costing over $10,000 annually were used by less than 3% of beneficiaries yet accounted for over one-third of total drug costs.

PMPRB Releases New Guidelines for Drug Price Monitoring Effective January 1

The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) has released new guidelines governing how staff monitor and review patented drug prices in Canada. The guidelines establish updated procedures for price excessive price hearings and related administrative processes. The new guidelines take effect January 1, 2025.

PMPRB News Archive Results Page

The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) published a news archive search results page displaying 79 results. The page serves as a navigational interface to the PMPRB's published news content on Canada.ca.

Scabigard Suspension Class II Recall - Product Defect Affecting Efficacy

The UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has issued a Class II recall alert for Scabigard Suspension for Cutaneous Administration (Vm 42058/5173 and Vm 60021/3020) manufactured by Zoetis. The affected batches may fail to demonstrate expected signs of 'take' following administration. Nine batch numbers are affected, manufactured between June 2024 and January 2025, with expiry dates through December 2026. Wholesalers and veterinarians are required to immediately review inventory and quarantine affected products.

How MAHs Report Veterinary Medicine Defects

The UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has published guidance for Marketing Authorisation Holders (MAHs) on reporting product defects in veterinary medicines. MAHs must submit a completed Product defect report form to rapidalert@vmd.gov.uk and contact VMD to discuss recalls where a product or batch is likely to be recalled. The guidance also includes a table of recalled products from the last 12 months including recent recalls of Scabigard (April 2026), Hibiwash (March 2026), and Folltropin (November 2025).

Illegal Animal Medicines Seizures, Improvement Notices and Prosecutions

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) publishes a rolling 12-month listing of enforcement actions under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (VMR), including seizure notices, improvement notices, and prosecutions involving illegal animal medicines. The listing covers activities from August 2024 through April 2026, with updates added as enforcement actions occur. The VMD exercises powers of entry and inspector powers under the VMR to address non-compliance with animal medicine regulations.

VMD Published Standards 2025 to 2026: Monitoring Performance

The UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) published its official statistics report monitoring performance against published standards for the period 2025 to 2026 up to 31 March 2026. The report includes monthly performance summaries from September 2025 through March 2026. This is an informational publication providing performance data rather than establishing new regulatory requirements.

Top Ten Imported Veterinary Medicines Quarterly Report Q1 2026

The UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate published its quarterly statistical report on certificates issued under the Special Import System for Q1 2026. Artuvetrin Therapy led with 3,256 certificates (27% of total), followed by Arthramid Vet with 1,346 certificates (11%). The top ten products collectively account for 58% of all certificates issued during the period. This is an informational report with no regulatory obligations or compliance requirements.