Drug Product Database

What is the Drug Product Database (DPD)?

The DPD contains product specific information on drugs approved for use in Canada. The database is managed by Health Canada and includes human pharmaceutical and biological drugs, veterinary drugs, radiopharmaceutical drugs and disinfectant products. It contains approximately 47,000 products that are currently approved, marketed or cancelled.

Human, veterinary, disinfectants and Schedule C drugs (e.g. radiopharmaceutical products) approved products will be available in the DPD online at the time of authorization, with the exception of three monographed product groups under Division 1, Part C of the Food and Drug Regulations: sunscreen (sunscreens, lipstick making a SPF claim, cosmetic-like products with sunscreen claims, etc.), anti-dandruff shampoo, and hard surface disinfectants.  For these products, applications filed after June 15, 2015, there may be a six month delay after approval for the inclusion in the DPD online.

Health Canada is the federal regulator of therapeutic products and does not provide medical advice on the use of the products identified in this database. For information related to treatment options, choices of medications and their uses, illnesses, side effects or drug interactions, please contact your health care professional. For information on where these products are sold, please contact the individual company directly.

Information Regarding the DPD Online Query

Additional information regarding the DPD online query:

• the data found in the DPD online query is updated nightly;
• use the Search Tips to help navigate the database;
• use the Terminology to get an understanding of the words used in the DPD online query;
• use the Data Extracts to download the content of the DPD online query;
• the Frequently Asked Questions document is intended to provide readers with a better understanding of Health Canada-authorized Product Monographs (PMs).

Please note that, products that were discontinued prior to 1996 are not available in this database.

For general questions about the contents of the DPD contact: The Office of Submissions and Intellectual Property

For technical support about the database contact: DPD Data Administrator

Related Resources

• Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD)