Current situation regarding reimbursement for biosimilar drugs

Here are some examples of reimbursement rules for biosimilar drugs.

For more information, see the page Know the conditions for coverage  on the Régie de l'assurance maladie website.

Biosimilar drugs have been available in Canada since 2014.

• Since 2020, all patients covered by RAMQ starting a new treatment must receive a biosimilar drug for:
  • Infliximab, whose reference product is Remicade^TM
  • Etanercept, whose reference product is Enbrel^TM
• Since March 2021, a new biosimilar drug has been available for adalimumab, and patients starting treatment receive this biosimilar drug, whose reference product is Humira^TM.

Biosimilar drugs have been available in Canada since 2015.

• Since 2017, all patients covered by RAMQ starting a new treatment must receive a biosimilar drug for insulin glargine, whose reference product is Lantus^TM.
• Since March 2021, a new biosimilar drug has been available for insulin lispro. Patients starting treatment receive this biosimilar drug whose reference product is Humalog^TM.
• Since February 2022, a new biosimilar drug has been available for insulin asparte. Patients starting treatment receive this biosimilar drug, whose reference product is NovoRapid^TM.

Biosimilar drugs have been available in Canada since 2014.

• Since 2020, all patients covered by RAMQ starting a new treatment must receive a biosimilar drug for infliximab, whose reference product is Remicade^TM.
• The biosimilar drug for adalimumab, whose reference drug is Humira^TM, has also been available since March 2021 and patients covered by RAMQ who are starting treatment now receive it.

Biosimilar drugs have been available in Canada since 2019.

• Since 2019, all patients treated in cancer centres in Québec starting a new treatment must receive a biosimilar drug for bevacizumab, whose reference product is Avastin^TM.
• Since 2020, a new biosimilar drug has been available for trastuzumab, and patients starting treatment receive this biosimilar drug whose reference product is Herceptin^TM.

Since 2018, all multiple sclerosis patients starting a new treatment receive glatiramer, whose reference product is Copaxone^TM. Note that glatiramer is not considered a biosimilar drug in the strict sense of the term, but a later complex non-biologic drug.

Biosimilars have been available in Canada since 2016.

• Since 2020, all patients covered by RAMQ starting a new treatment must receive a biosimilar drug for etanercept, whose reference product is Enbrel^TM.
• Since 2020, all patients covered by RAMQ starting a new treatment must receive a biosimilar drug for infliximab, whose reference product is Rémicade^TM.
• Since March 2021, a new biosimilar drug has been available for adalimumab. Patients starting treatment must receive this biosimilar drug, whose reference product is Humira^TM.