OBJECTIVES: The objective of this analysis was to evaluate listing status across the public drug plans for the latest innovative dermatology products available on the Canadian market.

METHODS: Dermatology products that received a Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) recommendation between January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021, or that reached a pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) agreement were collected. The outcome and date of the CADTH recommendation, pCPA letter of intent (LOI), and listing status on the public drug plans were recorded.

RESULTS: Between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021, there were ten innovative dermatology products with a positive CADTH recommendation. Indications included plaque psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and actinic keratosis. As of May 20, 2022, seven of the ten products had a signed pCPA LOI; no agreement was reached with three of the products for the dermatology indication. One additional product was identified that did not have a CADTH recommendation but did have a signed pCPA LOI for a dermatology indication (psoriasis vulgaris). All three products that did not have a signed pCPA LOI have no listings on the public drug plan formularies. Of the products that have a signed pCPA LOI (N=8), percent listing across the drug plans ranged from 25%-100%. Manitoba, Ontario and NIHB have 100% coverage of the eight products. In British Columbia (BC) there was only 25% (2/8) of the products listed, the next lowest is Newfoundland and Labrador at 63% (5/8).

CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrated that majority of the public drug plans listed at least 68% (5/8) of the innovative dermatology products that had a pCPA LOI, expect in BC, where only 25% (2/8) of products received listing. This leads to unequal and unequitable access of innovative dermatology products for patients in BC compared to the rest of Canada.