Reforming Paediatric Drug Regulations in Canada: A Clinical and an Access Imperative

Abstract

Children deserve the same high standards for drug safety, efficacy and access as adults. Unfortunately, Canada lags behind leading international regulators in implementing reforms to ensure access to paediatric medications. Paediatric regulations, also known as paediatric rules in the US, include a mandate to submit paediatric data in all new drug applications when paediatric use can be anticipated. Absent paediatric regulations, many medications with paediatric-specific indications in other countries remain “off-label” for Canadian children. In addition to concerns related to off-label drug safety, the absence of paediatric indications prohibits appropriate paediatric-specific health technology assessments and limits the evidence-based listing of paediatric medications on public and private formularies.