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Forum Update: Supporting Community-Led Discussion

The forum was created as a space for shared learning and peer support, and as the community grows, we want to lean more fully into that purpose.

Going forward, PAAB will be taking a more listening-first role in forum discussions. Rather than responding immediately to every question, we’ll be encouraging members to engage with one another, share experiences, and help build collective understanding. PAAB will continue to monitor conversations and will step in to:

  • Correct any misunderstandings
  • Provide guidance when questions remain unanswered after a few days
  • Support discussions where official clarification is needed

Our goal is to foster a collaborative, trusted community where knowledge is shared and strengthened by everyone’s contributions.

Thank you for being part of the conversation.

  • Product costs claims

    General Discussion
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    280 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Hey @dlew Coverage claims may be considered in HCP APS. Patient information should not contain promotional claims but formulary information may be considered. Please see our patient information guidance. HCP claims about “cost” should be factual and complete. A claim of “at zero additional cost for most patients” would be a hanging comparison and would need to clearly state versus what and be supportable across all public and private payers. Remember that formulary bodies have requested that messaging around coverage be limited to statements of coverage and not promotional messaging around “savings”. Additionally, messaging around cost should be clear about what costs (e.g. drug acquisition costs, mark-up, dispensing fee, etc.). Private coverage claims can be supported by independent third party data from an established company who assess’ market access.
  • 0 Votes
    3 Posts
    753 Views
    U
    Thank @Jennifer-Carroll , I will look into that and follow up if necessary. Hopefully a more simple question, can non-clinical characteristics of two schedule 2 products be compared in the DTC setting? E.g., Store Product X under conditions A, Store Product Y under conditions B?
  • 3 Votes
    1 Posts
    276 Views
    No one has replied
  • Ongoing Trials & Investigational Drugs

    PAAB Code
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    258 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Hey @ALee Please see Q&A 223 & Q&A 713. These were found by searching “ongoing”. If you select “in titles and posts” you may find additional past questions relevant to your question.
  • XX-year product claim

    General Discussion
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    481 Views
    L
    Thank you!
  • HCP-targeted ads in DTC spaces

    General Discussion
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    227 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Hey @Maryssa Any ad which appears in the consumer space (even when limited through targeting based on interests or profession), are subject to the direct-to-consumer advertising regulations. Link to therapeutic use through study design, name, description, fair balance, or any other form, would not be acceptable since it would contravene Section C.01.044 of the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations which does not permit advertising of prescription medications to the general public beyond name, price and quantity.
  • Market research as a reference

    General Discussion
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    157 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Hello @adelaidebaker Per Health Canada’s Terms and Conditions for Class B opioid products, advertising is restricted to messaging verbatim from the Health Canada approved Terms of Market Authorization. While “market research” and “claims” are broad and unclear, it is unlikely that market research can be used in advertising. If you have a specific case in mind, we invite you to submit for an opinion where additional context can be provided.
  • 0 Votes
    3 Posts
    603 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Good Morning @palanski There is not a part of the Code that states that it’s “not required”. Per the above response “. Although the PAAB code does not require a reference list to be included in patient information, we do review the list per s4.4.4 when the manufacturer intends to include the list in the piece.” Code section 6 (Patient Information) states “Company controlled or prepared branded patient information is information that contains non-promotional material that is consistent with, and in addition to, the Health Canada approved patient information (e.g. the consumer information section of the product monograph, patient insert, approved product labelling)” and “All health product information must be consistent with the Terms of Market Authorization (TMA), and should not contain promotional claims”. While other sources may support disease understanding, they do not act as sources of evidence for promotional claims which is the case in HCP advertising and therefore requires the source of evidence to be provided to the HCP for transparency. PAAB does not discourage inclusion of reference lists within patient pieces, it is simply not a requirement of the Code.
  • HCP "pro" website submission requirements

    General Discussion
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    530 Views
    L
    @Jennifer-Carroll Thank you!
  • 0 Votes
    2 Posts
    515 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Hey @cscholes Claims within advertising for biosimilars must meet the same rigors of the Code as other products. Studies from outside of the TMA must be consistent with the TMA. They must also meet PAAB Code requirements for evidence e.g. well-designed, published, peer-reviewed, statistically supported claims based on predefined endpoints, on label, etc.). If you’re not certain if a specific study meets those requirements, we encourage you to submit for an opinion review. Please be specific about how you’d like to use the study in order to receive the most comprehensive opinion.
  • RWE Usage

    Claims & Support/References for Claims
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    289 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Hi @Danielle Section 1.1.4 Endpoints/ Outcomes of the Guidance on Real-World Evidence states “Endpoints/Outcomes must be “consistent with” (though not necessarily “the same as”) those in the TMA. Regardless of whether the evidentiary basis for the presentation is RWE/RWD or an RCT, endpoints are not generally limited to those explicitly included within the TMA. Though the approach for RWE/RWD mirrors that for RCTs in this respect, the following examples are intended to clarify questions received during the consultation process.” You can review the examples in the linked document. Assessment of “consistent with” is made in the context of the combination of the endpoint, TMA and the therapeutic area. The submitter should provide authoritative support within the submission, to support that the endpoint is consistent or similar to those in the TMA and that it is a recognized endpoint within the therapeutic area.
  • RWE Data presentation

    Claims & Support/References for Claims
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    336 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Hey @mef Thank you for flagging this. We've discussed the matter with the review team to ensure alignment and are updating both internal and external guidance documents for clarity. In most cases, study design footnotes may appear outside the box.
  • 0 Votes
    2 Posts
    266 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Good Morning @dmauri This is a specific review question. Please submit the guidelines and proposed product claims. This can be done in a full submission or an opinion if you’d like further clarification prior to building out tools.
  • Pre-NOC storyboard review

    General Discussion
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    561 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Hello @Jennifer-Thomson It sounds like this would fall under a PILOT: Administrative Guideline for the Review of Pre-NOC Advertising Submissions. We’d get the file to “no further comments” pending review of the layout (video) post NOC. Please reach out to admin to discuss the specifics so that we can ensure we’re understanding the request and facilitating the best possible pathway to approval.
  • RAMQ criteria vs. notes

    PAAB Code
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    768 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Hey @ALee The same approach of “where applicable” should be applied to the RAMQ coverage as well. The intent of the inclusion is to ensure that the user is clear about the criteria for coverage as outlined by RAMQ. If the definitions and notes clarify or set the limitations/context for interpretation, they should be included.
  • 1 Votes
    1 Posts
    839 Views
    No one has replied
  • Formulary messaging clarification

    Miscellaneous
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    874 Views
    A
    Thank you!
  • Abstracts and HCP websites

    PAAB Q&A
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    2k Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Hey @ALee Not at this time based on PAAB code section 3.1.2 but something we can keep on a list to explore in the future.
  • Comparative Biosimilar Data

    Claims & Support/References for Claims
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    1k Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Good morning, @Username Comparative data remains subject to the guidance for evidentiary basis to support comparative claims. As noted above, consideration may apply when the study can be demonstrated to be the basis for approval of the biosimilar. A study that is NOT part of the basis for approval and completed post approval, should meet the standards for high quality evidence (i.e. pre-defined statistically significance endpoints).
  • Promoting a specific clinic in a branded APS

    PAAB Q&A
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    735 Views
    Jennifer CarrollJ
    Good morning, @copycallosum In theory, this sounds like an acceptable activity.
The responses, guidance, and advisories provided by the Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board (PAAB), including but not limited to those available through the PAAB Forum, the PAAB website, and any PAAB correspondences, are specifically intended to assist individuals navigating the PAAB preclearance system. Repurposing or reproducing this content without written consent from the PAAB Commissioner is strictly prohibited. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, use in machine learning or AI models.