pCPA

WHAT IS THE PCPA?

The pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) pCPA is an alliance made up of drug program leaders from all provincial, territorial and federal governments who work collaboratively to negotiate drug prices for their respective programs. Its pricing decisions are a precondition of having a medication covered on provincial drug formularies.

When a drug comes to Canada it must go through the Canadian drug regulatory, review and reimbursement system. The drug must go to various review bodies before it is eligible for public reimbursement. The pCPA is the last stage before public health plans decide whether or not to list a drug. 

WHAT NEGOTIATIONS FOR CF MODULATORS HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE PCPA?

All Canadian provinces provide coverage for Kalydeco for those with a specific mutation (the G551D mutation) on an exceptional, case-by-case basis. In 2019, the pCPA and the manufacturer completed price negotiations for additional Kalydeco mutations, which unfortunately are still not covered by most public drug programs.

In June 2021, the pan Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) announced that they had successfully concluded negotiations with Vertex for Kalydeco and Orkambi, for all Health Canada approved mutations. They also mentioned that upon approval from Health Canada and a finalized recommendation from CADTH, they may choose to add Trikafta to their agreement.

For more information please see the Q&A.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Cystic Fibrosis Canada is calling all provincial ministries of Health to: 

• Work with our federal and provincial public drug programs through the pCPA to include Trikafta as part of the current price negotiations for Orkambi and Kalydeco. 
• Make a commitment to expedite Trikafta through pCPA negotiations and provide immediate public coverage Trikafta and the other CF medicines with the broadest prescribing criteria possible.