Organizational Structure: Patented Medicine Prices Review Board

Board Members

The Board consists of not more than five members who serve on a part-time basis, appointed by the Governor-in-Council, including a Chairperson and a Vice-chairperson. The Chairperson is designated under the Patent Act as the Chief Executive Officer of the PMPRB with the authority and responsibility to supervise and direct its work. By operation of law, the Vice-chairperson exercises all the powers and functions of the Chairperson should the Chairperson be absent or incapacitated, or if the office of the Chairperson is vacant.

Find out more about the roles and responsibilities of Board Members.

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Chairperson

Thomas J. Digby

Thomas Digby is a lawyer with more than 25 years’ experience in Canadian and US intellectual property (IP) law, in the field of pharmaceuticals. He has worked closely with diverse biotech start-ups, their venture investors, and, for 10 years, with the global pharmaceutical leader, Novartis.

Thomas attended Queen’s University (BSc [Hons], 1987) and Dalhousie University (MSc  [Biochem], 1990), and graduated from Dalhousie Law School (now Schulich School of Law) (JD, 1992). He is licensed to practice in both Canada and the United States (Ontario [1994], New York [1995], Massachusetts [1995], British Columbia [1998]). He was formerly registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (2005-2012).

After articling with Blakes in Toronto, Thomas worked with a variety of biotech start-ups including Visible Genetics, Inex Pharmaceuticals, and Xenon Pharmaceuticals. At Inex, he provided IP strategy for the discovery efforts that led to the lipid-nanoparticle delivery system used in current COVID mRNA vaccines.

Thomas joined Novartis at its research headquarters in Cambridge MA (2005-2012), and later moved to the head office in Basel, Switzerland (2012-2015). At Novartis, he specialized in global transactions, led a multi-country IP enforcement program, supported the global tax team and the Novartis Venture Fund, and was regularly involved with the IP strategy of the generic (Sandoz) and innovator (Novartis) divisions.

In 2016, Thomas returned to Vancouver with his family, where he is a sole practitioner supporting the IP strategy of a small number of Canadian and US biotech clients. Among other community roles, he is a Commissioner of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.

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Vice-Chairperson

Anie Perrault

Ms. Anie Perrault is a lawyer by training (University of Ottawa – 1992; Barreau 1993) with more than 30 years of professional experience in the public and private sectors. Her career has focused on communications and public affairs related to genomic research and biotechnology and she has held several strategic positions at a national level in this field. She was Director General of BIOQuébec from 2013 to 2022 and Vice President, Communications of Genome Canada from 2001 to 2006.

Named Sun Life Leadership – Exceptional Woman finalist in the prestigious Les Mercuriades 2021 competition, Ms. Perrault is also an accredited mediator from the Institute of Mediation and Arbitration of Quebec. Ms. Perrault was a Member (administrative judge) of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal from 2015 to 2021, and continues to act as a mediator there today.

In 2013, Ms. Perrault received the title of Certified Corporate Administrator from the College of Corporate Administrators at Laval University. She is president of the board of directors of Génome Québec. She has also served on the board of directors of ACCESSA since 2020. She was a member of the boards of the Jeanne-Mance Foundation from 2016 to 2022, Loto-Québec from 2011 to 2021 and the University of Sherbrooke from 2016 to 2019.

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Members

Carolyn Kobernick

Carolyn Kobernick is a lawyer and former career public servant. Prior to her retirement in 2013, Ms. Kobernick had been Assistant Deputy Minister of Public Law for the Department of Justice since 2006. As principal counsel to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Ms. Kobernick was instrumental in the development and delivery of policy for the Department of Justice. In addition to identifying key strategic, legal and operational matters, she tackled cross-cutting national issues as the liaison between the Department of Justice and other government organizations.

Ms. Kobernick holds a B.C.L. and L.L.B. from McGill University and is a member of the bar of Ontario. In 2012 she obtained a Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies Boards and Tribunals from the Osgoode Hall Law School and the Society of Adjudicators and Regulators.

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Peter Moreland-Giraldeau

Peter Moreland-Giraldeau is an administrative law lawyer currently working as Legal Counsel for the Appeals Commission for Alberta Workers’ Compensation. Peter obtained his LLB from the University of Leicester and his LLM from the University of British Columbia.

Peter has significant experience in administrative law, particularly in the context of quasi-judicial tribunals. He has worked for various government organizations, including the Government of Ontario, the UK Federal Civil Service, the Scottish Government, and the Government of Alberta. 

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Dr. Emily Reynen

Dr. Emily Reynen completed both undergraduate and doctorate degrees in Pharmacy at the University of Toronto Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Dr. Reynen obtained her medical degree from the McGill University Faculty of Medicine. She completed internal medicine and critical care subspecialty training at Queen’s University. Dr. Reynen holds certification in Internal Medicine and Critical Care Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Reynen currently practices as a staff intensivist at Quinte Health Care Belleville General Hospital site and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Queen’s University.

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Directorates

Regulatory Affairs and Outreach

The Regulatory Affairs and Outreach Branch reviews the prices of patented drug products sold in Canada to ensure that they are not excessive; encourages patentees to comply voluntarily with the Board’s Guidelines; implements related compliance policies; and investigates complaints into the prices of patented medicines. This branch also informs and educates patentees on the Board’s Guidelines and filing requirements.

Policy and Economic Analysis

The Policy and Economic Analysis Branch develops policy and strategic advice; makes recommendations on possible amendments to the Board’s Guidelines; conducts research and analysis on the prices of drugs, pharmaceutical market developments and R&D trends; and publishes studies aimed at providing F/P/T governments and other interested stakeholders with centralized, credible information in support of evidence based policy.

Corporate Services

The Corporate Services Branch provides advice and services in relation to human resources management; facilities; procurement; health, safety and security; information technology; and information management. It is also responsible for financial planning and reporting, accounting operations, audit and evaluation, and liaising with federal central agencies on these topics.

Board Secretariat

The Board Secretariat manages the Board’s meeting and hearing processes, including the official record of proceedings.

General Counsel

The General Counsel advises the PMPRB on legal matters and leads the legal team representing Board Staff in proceedings before the Board.