Which organization operates the Common Drug Review in Canada?

The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) operates the Common Drug Review (CDR) in Canada. The CDR is a thorough evaluation process that reviews and assesses the clinical and cost-effectiveness of drugs submitted by pharmaceutical manufacturers, ultimately providing recommendations to provincial and territorial public drug plan formulary committees about listing these drugs on their formularies. This process helps ensure that decisions regarding drug reimbursement are based on transparent and evidence-based information aligned with the healthcare priorities of Canadians.

In Canada, Health Canada is responsible for the approval of new drugs but does not directly handle the evaluation process related to the drug listings. The Canadian Expert Drug Advisory Committee (CEDAC) is a consulting body that provides expert advice to CADTH but does not operate the CDR itself. The Patent Medicines Prices Review Board (PMPRB) also plays a role in regulating the prices of patented drugs but is not involved in the drug review process in the context of common drug coverage decisions. Understanding the structure and function of these organizations clarifies the specific role that CADTH plays in the overall drug review and approval process in Canada.