Dr. Richard Hatchett was recently in Ottawa seeking support for the project. His trip’s timing—amid news of the spread of hantavirus on a cruise ship—was a coincidence, but has reinforced ‘that these kinds of threats are continually and unpredictably emerging,’ he says.
‘Where is R&D flourishing right now? It’s not in the U.S. It’s not in Europe. It’s in China,’ says IMC’s Bettina Hamelin at Canada’s Drug Agency’s annual symposium.
The question is whether our policy environment is doing enough to turn that strength into something patients, their doctors, and their families can actually feel.
The department recently told recipients it would cut 2.26 per cent of the total funding first agreed upon in 2024. Baldinelli says these groups are being held accountable for their work to receive this money, yet Ottawa can just backtrack from the contractual deals.
The reduction is a part of the federal government’s spending review, and impacts 17 organizations. BioCanRX president Dr. Stéphanie Michaud says the cut is ‘inconsistent’ with the government’s messaging on the importance of funding science.
Witnesses told MPs that global conflicts and new U.S. policies should motivate the federal government to improve its regulatory processes to ensure that companies want to produce their pharmaceuticals in Canada.
The federal Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy, released in 2021, did not result in needed policy changes or alignment of federal departments and investments. In contrast, other top-tier countries place life sciences at the centre of industrial strategies and align the sector with talent, trade, research and development, innovation and infrastructure.
But that doesn’t mean the drug pricing tribunal can’t look at past years’ data to inform future reviews of drug prices, says director general Guillaume Couillard.
‘We want to know what’s on our plate, we want to know what we’re buying,’ says agricultural critic Yves Perron about the petition he recently tabled calling for labels.
Our innovation system remains fragmented. Partnerships between universities, industry and government are often too ad hoc, funding cycles are short, and incentives are often misaligned.
The House Health Committee is looking into the links between immigration and health human resources shortages. But Liberal MP Mark Powlowski says the Conservatives’ language on this ‘ticks’ him off as it suggests the problem in health care is a result of too many immigrants, which ‘is clearly wrong.’
Canada continues to struggle at turning research strength into economic growth. For a country with world-class science, this gap is more than a statistic, it’s a signal of both risk, and opportunity.
Amid the Liberals’ focus on building a stronger economy, Health Minister Marjorie Michel’s office says that faster access to new medicines and supporting researchers are priorities.
A proactive and co-ordinated strategy from the government is essential to safeguard both access and affordability to medicines for the long term.
Drug companies could begin questioning whether to manufacture drugs or conduct clinical trials in Canada, says Life Sciences Ontario CEO.
Guideline changes became necessary after Justin Trudeau’s government chose to amend the Patented Medicines Regulations, a process beset with legal challenges and many delays.
Dr. Theresa Tam has left the job of chief public health officer after eight years. Her successor will have to contend with a change in the U.S.’ public health approach, vaccine hesitancy among Canadians and the need to always be ready for the next global outbreak.
To lead in this space, Canada needs a globally competitive investment climate, and a best-in-class regulatory system.
Currently, our scientists have to look outside of the country to take their work to the next level, which means that Canada is not benefitting fully from Canadian ideas.
The time has come for us to commit to life sciences as a driver for Canada’s economy with the knowledge that this sector can help solve some of our biggest societal challenges.
It’s imperative Canada keep pace with other competing jurisdictions, and establish itself as a regulatory leader that rewards investment and talent.
Government investment and policy can help ensure groundbreaking technologies remain in Canada when companies scale up their production especially for international distribution.
To fully harness the benefits of a thriving biotechnology industry, it is critical we act to address the challenges that threaten it.
Governments should focus on supporting basic research, helping startups, and funding the scale-up of growth companies.
By creating an environment that fuels scientific advancement, Canada can face future crises with confidence, ensuring both its prosperity and global influence.
