What new drugs are poised to have the biggest impact on plan costs?

The TELUS Health 2022 Drug Pipeline report looks at approved and likely soon-to-be-approved high-cost therapies for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration and atopic dermatitis. There’s also potential good news for your budget with the emergence of new generics to treat multiple sclerosis, a top 10 contributor to plan costs according to the 2021 TELUS Health Drug Data Trends & National Benchmarks report. Also included in this report is a summary of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, though these have not at this point had an impact on private payers. 

Further into the report, you’ll find a separate discussion of generics highlighting an approved therapy for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and on-the-horizon treatments for plaque psoriasis, hereditary angioedema and rheumatoid arthritis. Meanwhile, a section on biosimilars examines the impact of the continued rollout of switching programs and showcases three therapies that are awaiting Health Canada approval.

We hope this report gives you a feel for the evolving drug pipeline in Canada, and helps you make evidence-informed decisions as you formulate your drug plans.