More topics

Limited coverage criteria – infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis

Last updated on April 2, 2025

Inflectra® discontinuation; Remdantry™ and Ifixi® listings

Effective April 1, 2025, the Inflectra®-branded infliximab product will be discontinued. Starting that same day, Remdantry™ will be marketed by Celltrion Healthcare under the same Health Canada-assigned DIN (02419475), as it is the same product.

Between April 1 and September 30, 2025, Pfizer Canada ULC will continue to distribute Inflectra. During that period, pharmacies must dispense Inflectra under PIN 66128531 for it to be eligible for PharmaCare coverage.

As of October 1, 2025, Inflectra will no longer be a PharmaCare benefit.

Also on April 1, 2025, the infliximab biosimilar Ixifi® will be marketed by Pfizer Canada ULC under DIN 02523191.

Avsola® and Renflexis™ continue to be available as intravenous infliximab biosimilar options, and Remsima™SC continues to be available as a subcutaneous option. 

Patient transition

April 1, 2025

As soon as it is discontinued on April 1, 2025, the Inflectra-branded product will not be covered for new patients, and Special Authority (SA) requests for infliximab will only be approved for Avsola, Ixifi, Remdantry, Remsima SC or Renflexis.

Existing patients who have been dispensed the Inflectra-branded product in the previous 3 months and have PharmaCare coverage for Inflectra, will have transitional coverage until September 30, 2025. This will allow time to switch to Avsola, Ixifi, Remdantry, Remsima SC or Renflexis.

Please note: Switching from Inflectra to Remsima SC will require Special Authority approval.

April 1 to September 30, 2025

During this 6-month period, existing patients with PharmaCare coverage for Inflectra must switch to Avsola, Ixifi, Remdantry, Remsima SC or Renflexis.

October 1, 2025

Inflectra-branded product is no longer available and therefore not an eligible PharmaCare benefit. Only Avsola, Ixifi, Remdantry, Remsima SC and Renflexis are covered by PharmaCare.

More information about the Inflectra discontinuation and patient transition is available in the April 2025 PharmaCare Newsletter.

decorative divider

PharmaCare covers infliximab biosimilar products for psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), plaque psoriasis (PsO), Crohn's disease (CD),  ulcerative colitis (UC) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Return to Special Authority drug list

Generic name

infliximab

Brand name

Strength

Form
Avsola™ 100 mg/vial powder for solution
Inflectra© 100 mg/vial powder for solution
Ixifi© 100 mg/vial powder for solution
Remdantry™ 100 mg/vial powder for solution
Remsima™SC 120 mg/mL pre-filled pen for subcutaneous injection
Renflexis© 100 mg/vial powder for solution

Special Authority criteria

Approval period

For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis according to established criteria as described on Special Authority request forms below, when requested by a rheumatologist

Initial: 1 year

Renewal: 1 year to indefinite

Practitioner exemptions

  • None

Special notes

  • PharmaCare covers a maximum 56-day supply of intravenous (IV) infliximab per fill. Eligible dosing amounts can be seen on the Special Authority Request forms and on an approved Special Authority Request. One infusion (dose) usually provides treatment for 56 days or less
  • PharmaCare coverage is limited to maintenance dosages of subcutaneous (SC) infliximab 120 mg every 2 weeks. PharmaCare covers a maximum 28-day supply of subcutaneous infliximab per fill

Special Authority request form(s)