Update on New Drug and Medical Device Authorizations

Accelerating new treatment options for Canadians

April 25, 2019 - Ottawa, ON - Health Canada

Canadians want access to the latest treatments for themselves, and their friends and family, especially for diseases and conditions where limited options are available.

One area that has seen a great deal of change in treatment options is cancer. Based on Canadian Cancer Statistics, 45% of Canadian women and 49% of Canadian men will develop cancer during their lifetime. While treatments are available for many types of cancers, there are some cases where treatment options are limited, such as with rare types of leukemia.

In recent months, Health Canada has authorized several new drugs for patients with rare and debilitating cancers, including a new type of therapy called CAR-T cell immunotherapy, which helps provide a customized option for the treatment of an aggressive type of lymphoma. The Department prioritized many of these drug reviews to ensure faster access to treatment options for the people who need them.

Medical devices are equally critical for many Canadians to achieve and maintain their health. Health Canada has also licensed new medical devices that test blood, supplement oxygen, stimulate nerves and treat cardiac patients and patients with corneal ulcers.

These new drugs and devices have the potential to vastly improve the quality of lives of many Canadians, including children and seniors.

As of March 2019, information from drug submissions will be made available to Canadians through Health Canada's new Clinical Information Portal, following the Department's review of each drug submission. Health Canada will also make information about drugs and medical devices already on the market available upon request, and add this information to the portal. Beginning in 2021, the Department will start releasing information on new medical device submissions.

Canadians can follow @GovCanHealth on Twitter to find out when Health Canada has authorized new health products. For people who are not yet following us, our recent authorizations are listed below.

Additional Health Canada Resources for Information about Drugs and Medical Devices:

• 2017 Highlights Report on New Drugs and Medical Devices
• Report a Health and Safety Concern
• Health Canada's Action Plan on Medical Devices
• New Safety and Effectiveness Reviews
• The Drug and Health Product Register
• MedEffect Canada
• Summary safety reviews
• Drug product database