On January 5, 2022, amendments came into force amending the Food and Drug Regulations to allow practitioners to request access to restricted drugs through the Special Access Program (SAP), which was previously prohibited. Restricted drugs are controlled substances that are listed in the Schedule to Part J of the Food and Drug Regulations which includes, for example, certain amphetamines and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Health Canada revised its Special Access Program for drugs: Guidance document for industry and practitioners to reflect these amendments. The Guidance also addresses the need for an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, if a restricted drug is authorized for sale through the SAP.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Life Sciences Regulatory & Compliance Group.
The preceding is intended as a timely update on Canadian intellectual property and technology law. The content is informational only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. To obtain such advice, please communicate with our offices directly.
Related Publications & Articles
-
Supreme Court of Canada: methods of medical treatment unpatentable, validity of Janssen’s paliperidone dosing regimen patent upheld
Today the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in Pharmascience Inc v Janssen Inc, 2026 SCC 26 on the patentability of methods of medical treatment, dismissing Pharmascience’s appeal.Read More -
Ministerial Reliance Order permitting Health Canada to rely on decisions of foreign regulators now in force
On July 15, 2026, the Minister of Health’s Order Providing for Reliance on Decisions of, or Documents Produced by, Foreign Regulatory Authorities in Respect of Certain Drugs ("Reliance Order”) was pub...Read More -
Health Canada seeks feedback on pilot to prioritize domestically manufactured generic drug submissions
In a News Release dated July 15, 2026, Health Canada advised that it is modernizing its regulatory processes to improve efficiency while maintaining high standards for safety, efficacy and quality.Read More
