Canada’s Ontario introduces biosimilars switching policy

Biosimilars/General | Posted 20/01/2023 post-comment0 Post your comment

The Canadian province of Ontario is the latest to introduce a biosimilars switching policy. Under the terms of the policy, Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) recipients who are on an originator biological will be required to transition to a Health Canada approved biosimilar version of the drug.

16704526_l

A nine-month transition period will start on 31 March 2023 and patients taking a number of biological drug products will be required to consult their healthcare providers regarding their transition plan. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The named originator products that patients are to be switched from are: Copaxone®, Enbrel®, Humalog®, Humira®, Lantus®, NovoRapid®, Remicade®, and Rituxan®. The policy was first approved in 2020 [1].

Ontario joins British Columbia (BC) [2], Quebec [3], New Brunswick [4], Nova Scotia [5], the Northwest Territories [6] and Saskatchewan [7] in introducing biosimilars mandatory switching policies. These policies have been introduced in a bid to drive down healthcare costs across Canada wherein patients are switched from expensive originator products to lower-cost approved biosimilar versions of the drug. BC was first to introduce such a policy in May 2019 [1].

Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health noted, ‘Patients will continue receiving the same high-quality treatment, while allowing the government to fund more new drug therapies, bring innovation to the healthcare system and continue its work to deliver better, connected patient care’.

Despite the financial benefits of switching policies, some organizations, such as Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, Gastrointestinal Society, Diabetes Canada and the Institute for Optimizing Health Outcomes, have previously voiced concerns about non-medical switching of stable patients [1, 8].

‘While the Ontario announcement justifies the policy by citing 15 years of successful use of biosimilars in Europe, it is important to note that in nearly every European country physicians retain free choice between multiple reimbursed products and forced substitution is rare. A 2017 survey of 403 Canadian physicians revealed that Canadian physicians are generally opposed to forced substitution,’ according to Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines.

Related articles
Low levels of biosimilar uptake in Canada

Law and ethics of switching to biosimilars in Canada

Praise for Canada’s BC after it adopts biosimilar transitioning policy

LATIN AMERICAN FORUM
The new section of the ‘Latin American Forum’ on GaBI has been launched. The objective of this new section is to provide you with all the latest news and updates on developments of generic and biosimilar medicines in Latin America in Spanish.

View the latest headline article: Reino Unido actualiza su directriz para permitir la intercambiabilidad de biosimilares

Browse the news in the Latin American Forum!

Register to receive the GaBI Latin American Forum newsletter. Inform colleagues and friends of this new initiative.

FORO LATINOAMERICANO
Se ha lanzado la nueva sección del ‘Foro Latinoamericano’ sobre GaBI. El objetivo de esta nueva sección es brindarle las últimas noticias y actualizaciones sobre desarrollos de medicamentos genéricos y biosimilares en América Latina en español.

Ver el último artículo de cabecera: Reino Unido actualiza su directriz para permitir la intercambiabilidad de biosimilares

!Explore las noticias en el Foro Latinoamericano!

Regístrese para recibir el boletín informativo GaBI Foro Latinoamericano. Informe a colegas y amigos sobre esta nueva iniciativa. 

 

References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Ontario becomes third Canadian province to switch patients to biosimilars [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Jan 20]. Available from:
www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/Ontario-becomes-third-Canadian-province-to-switch-patients-to-biosimilars
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Canada’s British Columbia to switch patients to biosimilars [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Jan 20]. Available from:
www.gabionline.net/policies-legislation/Canada-s-British-Columbia-to-switch-patients-to-biosimilars
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Quebec announces biosimilar switching policy [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Jan 20]. Available from:
www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/quebec-announces-biosimilar-switching-policy
4. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Canadian provinces expand their use of biosimilars [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Jan 20]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/canadian-provinces-expand-their-use-of-biosimilars
5. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Nova Scotia, Canada implements biosimilar switching policy [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Jan 20]. Available from:
www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/nova-scotia-canada-implements-biosimilar-switching-policy
6. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Northwest territories Canada announces biosimilars switching policy [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Jan 20]. Available from: 
www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/northwest-territories-canada-announces-biosimilars-switching-policy
7. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Canada’s Saskatchewan province introduces biosimilars switching policy [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Jan 20]. Available from: 
www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/canada-s-saskatchewan-province-introduces-biosimilars-switching-policy
8. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Concerns raised as Canada’s Alberta plans to switch patients to biosimilars [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Jan 20]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/policies-legislation/Concerns-raised-as-Canada-s-Alberta-plans-to-switch-patients-to-biosimilars

Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.

Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2023 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.

comment icon Comments (0)
Post your comment
Related content
Promotion of biosimilar product development in Puerto Rico
Biological 143606710 V14J14ct
Biosimilars/General Posted 17/10/2023
CVS’ Cordavis to launch Sandoz’s Hyrimoz (adalimumab)
15 AA010699
Biosimilars/General Posted 03/10/2023
Most viewed articles
About GaBI
Home/About GaBI Posted 06/08/2009
EU guidelines for biosimilars
EMA logo 1 V13C15
Home/Guidelines Posted 08/10/2010