New post-market drug research network launched

Health Canada has announced a major increase in funding for the fledgling Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network (DSEN) to conduct research into the long-term safety of prescription drugs after they have reached the market. Launched in June/08 with $1 million in funding, DSEN will receive $32 million over the next five years, and $10 million annually thereafter. The Network will be administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and is part of the government's larger Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan which it announced in 2007. Post-market surveillance of drugs is considered an important advancement in Canada's consumer protection regime for pharmaceuticals, extending scrutiny beyond pre-market trials. The Network will build on existing research capacity by linking virtually to universities across Canada, producing independent and objective research findings for use by regulators and other decision-makers….