How Specialty Drug Commercialization Differs in Canada from the US

In the second part of her interview at Asembia AXS26 in Las Vegas, Jessica Lovett, VP of Commercial Strategy and Innovation at Innomar Strategies, outlines how manufacturers should approach early commercial planning for specialty therapies in the Canadian market. She frames the process around a structured timeline that incorporates regulatory, access, and reimbursement considerations.

Lovett emphasizes the importance of starting early, pointing to a roughly 24-month planning horizon. She explains that decisions begin in the pre-development phase, where manufacturers must consider regulatory requirements, product importation, and coordination in lockstep with Health Canada. From there, planning expands into development and access strategy, with a 12- to 18-month runway to prepare for commercialization across both public and private entry points.

As the timeline moves closer to launch, additional considerations come into focus, including patient services and reimbursement. Lovett notes the need for coordination across supply chain, regulatory, importation, and access functions, with key elements in place at least six months prior to launch to support entry into the Canadian market.

She also highlights key differences between Canada and the US, particularly in how reimbursement is structured. While Canada is often perceived as a single system, Lovett explains that access is determined across multiple federal and provincial decision-making bodies, alongside private coverage. This requires manufacturers to plan for both public and private pathways and account for how reimbursement is navigated across jurisdictions.

Watch the first part of Lovett’s interview with PC:

1. Asembia AXS26: Jessica Lovett on the RWE that Matters Most