New report examines new drugs in the pipeline that may significantly impact future drug spending in Canada

OTTAWA, ON, June 27, 2023 /CNW/ - The latest edition of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) Meds Pipeline Monitor reports that oncology continued to dominate the therapeutic mix of the drug pipeline in 2022, with cancer treatments representing nearly one third (30%) of medicines in all phases of clinical trials. Treatments for infectious diseases held the second largest share of the pipeline, at 15%, due to the increased number of medicines for the treatment of COVID-19.

Meds Pipeline Monitor 2022 reviewed 1,257 new medicines in late stages of clinical evaluation to highlight drugs that could potentially impact the Canadian health care system. Among these, the PMPRB identified 28 late-stage new medicines, including five new gene therapies, that may offer breakthroughs in treating previously unmet needs or have the potential to treat large patient populations, as well as five new medicines currently under review by Heath Canada. The report also provides an overview of the fast-moving pipeline for medicines and vaccines under development to treat and prevent COVID-19.

The Meds Pipeline Monitor series, which is published through the National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System (NPDUIS) research initiative, provides a snapshot of the new drug landscape, highlighting medicines currently in clinical trials that may significantly impact future clinical practice and/or drug spending in Canada if approved for sale.

This annual horizon-scanning report is part of a suite of PMPRB publications that examine key segments of the pharmaceutical market. Together with its companion publication, Meds Entry Watch, it examines the continuum of new and emerging medicines in Canada and internationally.

• In 2022, over 9,000 new medicines were undergoing clinical trials, compared to just under 8,500 the year before. The number of drugs in the pipeline is increasing by an average of 11% per year since 2018.
• Cancer treatments represented almost one third (30%) of medicines in all phases of clinical trials. Treatments for infectious diseases held the second largest share of the pipeline, at 15%, due to the increased number of medicines for the treatment of COVID-19.
• Nearly one third (31%) of medicines in Phase III clinical trials or pre-registration had an early orphan designation approved through the US FDA or the EMA, which is consistent with the increasing trend in the prevalence of orphan-designated medicines entering the pharmaceutical market.
• Nine of the medicines listed in this year's report have forecasted global annual revenues of over US $1 billion by 2028, one of which has recently been approved by Health Canada.
• As of September 2022, 550 vaccines and therapies were undergoing clinical evaluation globally for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Health Canada is currently reviewing 14 new and supplemental drug submissions for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

• Meds Pipeline Monitor, 2022 (Patented Medicine Prices Review Board)

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SOURCE Patented Medicine Prices Review Board