Biosimilar drugs
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.
Dermatology
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 RemicadeTM
- Etanercept, whose reference product is EnbrelTM
- Since March 2021, a new biosimilar drug has been available for adalimumab, and patients starting treatment receive this biosimilar drug, whose reference product is HumiraTM.
Endocrinology
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 LantusTM.
- Since March 2021, a new biosimilar drug has been available for insulin lispro. Patients starting treatment receive this biosimilar drug whose reference product is HumalogTM.
- Since February 2022, a new biosimilar drug has been available for insulin asparte. Patients starting treatment receive this biosimilar drug, whose reference product is NovoRapidTM.
Gastroenterology
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 RemicadeTM.
- The biosimilar drug for adalimumab, whose reference drug is HumiraTM, has also been available since March 2021 and patients covered by RAMQ who are starting treatment now receive it.
Oncology
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 AvastinTM.
- Since 2020, a new biosimilar drug has been available for trastuzumab, and patients starting treatment receive this biosimilar drug whose reference product is HerceptinTM.
Neurology
Since 2018, all multiple sclerosis patients starting a new treatment receive glatiramer, whose reference product is CopaxoneTM. Note that glatiramer is not considered a biosimilar drug in the strict sense of the term, but a later complex non-biologic drug.
Rheumatology
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 EnbrelTM.
- Since 2020, all patients covered by RAMQ starting a new treatment must receive a biosimilar drug for infliximab, whose reference product is RémicadeTM.
- Since March 2021, a new biosimilar drug has been available for adalimumab. Patients starting treatment must receive this biosimilar drug, whose reference product is HumiraTM.
Biosimilar drugs in Québec
Common name | Name of the innovator or reference biologic drug | Brand name of biosimilar drugs | Date by which the transition must be done |
---|---|---|---|
Adalimumab | HumiraTM (AbbVie) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Bevacizumab | AvastinTM (Roche) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Enoxaparine | LovenoxMD (Sanofi) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Étanercept | EnbrelTM (Amgen) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Filgrastim | NeupogenTM (Amgen) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Infliximab | RemicadeTM (Janssen) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Insulin glargine | LantusTM (Sanofi Aventis) Lantus SolostarTM (Sanofi Aventis) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Insuline lispro | HumalogTM Humalog KwikPenTM (Lilly) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Pegfilgrastim | NeulastaTM (Amgen) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Rituximab | RituxanMD (Roche) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Teriparatide | FortéoMD (Lilly) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Trastuzumab | HerceptinTM (Roche) |
| April 13, 2022 |
Common name | Brand name of the innovator or reference biologic drug | Brand name on the later complex non-biologic drug | Date by which the transition must be done |
---|---|---|---|
Glatiramer | CopaxoneTM (Teva Innovation) | GlatectTM (Pharmascience) | April 13, 2022 |
Last update: April 14, 2022