Release of the PMPRB Discussion Guide for the Consultations on the Board's Excessive Price Guidelines

On May 23rd, 2006, the PMPRB released its Discussion Guide for the Consultations on the Board's Excessive Price Guidelines. This Guide is a follow-up to the Discussion Paper on Price Increases for Patented Medicines published in March 2005. Following the review of the submissions provided by stakeholders on the discussion paper, it was indicated that "price increases are not stakeholders' prime concern" but rather that the introductory prices of new medicines should be monitored closely and that the Board's Excessive Price Guidelines should be revisited. As a result, the Board is looking to "ascertain the need and the support for changes to the Guidelines, as well as views on possible options for changes".

Three specific Guideline issues are discussed in the Discussion Guide.

• The appropriateness of the current approach to the categorization of new patented medicines
• The appropriateness of the current approach used to review the introductory prices of new patented medicines, and
• Whether the Board's Guidelines should address the direction in the Patent Act to consider "any market."