Durhane Wong-Rieger Discusses Canadian Rare Disease Drug Strategy

What is the Canadian Rare Disease Drug Strategy (RDDS) and what does it aim to achieve?

The $1.5 billion Canadian Rare Disease Drug Strategy (RDDS) launched March 2023 affords Ontario an unprecedent opportunity to surge to global excellence with a comprehensive rare disease program. With $1.4 billion to be allocated through federal/provincial bilateral agreements, Ontario is in an enviably prescient position to leverage the funds to launch a “primed and ready” Ontario Rare Disease Plan. Developed in 2017 (but not implemented), it provides a framework for delivering on the RDDS promise to provide “access to new and emerging cutting-edge therapies” by linking Ontario’s diagnostic and clinical care centres to the research community and to a clinical trials network.