R2D2 Aligning Regulatory and HTA Review to Quicken Patient Access

In 2017, Health Canada launched the Regulatory Review of Drugs and Devices (R2D2) initiative with the goal of creating a regulatory system that provides greater and faster access to therapeutic products aligned with Canada's healthcare system needs. “One of our greatest achievements was setting up an aligned review process where a manufacturer can make a drug submission to the regulator and make a submission to health technology assessment at about the same time,” explains Megan Bettle, Director General, COVID-19 Regulatory Response Team at Health Canada. “By doing this, we're still making independent decisions but it's allowed those two separate processes to be brought together so you no longer have a prolonged regulatory review, HTA review, you have decisions being made much closer in time. It's making it more efficient for drugs to actually get to patients who need them.”