14 August 2019 - Canada’s patented drug price regulator, set to gain new powers next year, may be “more forgiving” in setting price caps for drugs that treat rare diseases, the agency’s executive director told Reuters, as some advocates warned the country’s pricing reforms would hurt patients.

The Canadian government announced final regulations meant to cut drug spending on Friday. The reforms expand the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board’s (PMPRB) powers, and among other things give it the ability to consider the cost-effectiveness of medications.

Doug Clark, executive director of the PMPRB, noted that improving access to rare disease drugs was part of the most recent federal budget.

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