Winter 2023 (Volume 33, Number 4)

Update from the CRA Therapeutics Committee

By Alison Kydd, MD, PhD, FRCPC

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The CRA Therapeutics Committee has been busy over the past year. We have been working on new initiatives for the CRA involving the review and approval of Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) submissions for rheumatic medications. Some of the highlights over the past year include the following:

• Ongoing work on several different drug shortage issues.
• Development of a review process for CADTH clinician input applications for submission by the CRA.
• Completion of two CADTH reviews.
• Initial meetings regarding the development of a Drug Access and Adjudication (Pharmacare) Subcommittee.

Monitoring drug shortages and advocating for CRA members and their patients are always our top priorities. We will continue to respond to emerging issues on behalf of our members through position statements.

This work is only possible through the dedication of our volunteer committee members, who are all very busy with their numerous other roles. I would particularly like to thank my former Co-Chair Dr. Rosie Scuccimarri who was vital in overseeing a huge amount of work regarding COVID vaccinations. She continues her work as one of our committee members. We have had several new members join our committee who are highly committed and efficient. I am always impressed with our committee members’ timely responses and expert guidance. As always, our work would not be possible without Sarah Webster, a CRA staff member, who is critical to our ongoing functioning.

Alison Kydd, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Chair, CRA Therapeutics Committee
Clinical Associate Professor, Rheumatology
University of British Columbia
Nanaimo, British Columbia