The pCPA is thrilled to expand its negotiation pathway options with the launch of the Early Negotiation Process (ENP) and the Targeted Negotiation Process (TNP). These expedited negotiation pathways are designed to accelerate negotiation timelines.
“These pathways reflect our commitment to improving our negotiation processes so patients in Canada can receive timely coverage of the drugs they need,” says Mauro Chies, Chief Executive Officer of the pCPA. “These are permanent enhancements to our negotiation offerings and will benefit patients and families across the country.”
Focused on cancer treatments, the ENP is designed for drugs that are part of Project Orbis. This process will see negotiations start when Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) or the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) accept a submission, rather than after a final health technology assessment (HTA) reimbursement recommendation is issued. This is anticipated to save up to 6 months compared to a standard negotiation.
“The pCPA’s Early Negotiation Process is an encouraging step in the right direction for patients with breast cancer to improve timely access,” says Kimberly Carson, CEO of Breast Cancer Canada. “With this national negotiation pathway, timelines for coverage of new cancer drugs will be reduced for patients across the country, making progress at a time when every day matters. We want to recognize the pCPA for taking action and putting patients first.”
The revised Targeted Negotiation Process (TNP) formalizes a streamlined pathway for non-complex negotiations, including those for drugs comparable to others already available in the market. It was first launched as a pilot in 2021, and it has shown to be 30% to 45% faster than a standard negotiation. The TNP has now been extended to drugs that are part of the PACES (Pharmaceuticals with Anticipated Comparable Efficacy and Safety) pathway from the CDA-AMC.
“Through the pCPA’s Targeted Negotiation Process, we’ve been able to work together efficiently to reach timely agreements,” says Alison Pozzobon, VP Communications, Government Affairs and Market Access, GSK Canada. “This collaborative approach demonstrates the value of streamlined negotiations with a focus on efficiency. We look forward to working with the pCPA on more of these files, with the shared goal of improving drug coverage timelines to ensure patients receive timely access to needed therapies.”
Both pathways apply nationally, benefitting those enrolled in provincial, territorial, and federal public drug plans throughout Canada.
Full details about the expedited negotiation pathways are available on the pCPA website, including process conditions, steps, and timelines, as well as partner feedback from recent consultations and how this impacted the final processes.
We want to thank everyone who provided their input on the new pathways for sharing their insights.