Accessing Quebecers' Medical Data
The Ministry of Economy and Innovation recently indicated the government's interest in making RAMQ medical data accessible to pharmaceutical companies. Quebec's life sciences industry welcomes this announcement. Better Health Data Management Means being able to improve predictive, clinical, and therapeutic healthcare delivery outcomes, as well as accelerating public and private scientific research.
Learn more about the issues related to RAMQ data access
OUR FIVE PRIORITIES
During its representations and its routine operations, BIOQuébec aims to:
· STRENGTHEN THE FINANCING CHAIN
· ACCELERATE THE INTEGRATION OF INNOVATIONS
· FACILITATE ACCESS TO SR&ED CREDITS
· FACILITATE THE ATTRACTION AND RETENTION OF WORKERS
· HIGHLIGHT BIOSCIENCES’ ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION
STUDY ON THE INTEGRATION OF QUEBEC INNOVATIONS IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
BIOQuébec Outlines a Framework for Action to Support Quebec’s Biopharmaceutical Innovations and Bolster Quebec’s Autonomy
New Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) guidelines
The federal government has adopted new measures that change the way the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) assesses the prices of patented medicines and vaccines in Canada.
News: PMPRB federal drug pricing reform postponed to July 1, 2022.
BIOQuébec is concerned about the new PMPRB's mesures and the impact it will have on Quebec patients, the health care system, investments in health research and our economy given the importance of the life sciences sector to Quebec.
Press review
Opinion of Konrad Yakabuski in the Globe And Mail: Canada is missing out on global pharma boom, and things are about to get worse, June 16, 2021
John Ivison : Liberal policies are pricing Canada out of the pharma market, National Post, June 4, 2021
Maclean’s by Paul Wells, Trudeau and Big Pharma: Not a love story, Why doesn't Canada have a robust pharmaceutical industry? Until the COVID crisis hit, Ottawa spent years putting up 'don't bother' signs.
Toronto Star by Heather Scoffield, The Trudeau government wants to make us pandemic-proof. Will Big Pharma play along?
The Globe and Mail, Konrad Yakabuski, Why is Justin Trudeau cutting off his nose to spite Big Pharma?
National Post, Tasha Kheiriddin, The Liberals went hostile against Big Pharma. Now we’re facing vaccine shortages.
La Presse, Joël-Denis Bellavance, Vaccins et industrie pharmaceutique: Ottawa rattrapé par son indifférence ? (Vaccines and the pharmaceutical industry: Ottawa snared by its indifference?) in which he suggests Canada is behind on COVID-19 vaccines because there was no relationship with the industry built last spring because of the issues between the industry and the government on new pricing regulations.
LIFE SCIENCES MOBILIZED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID
BIOQuébec and members were active in the fight against COVID when the pandemic hit in 2020.
For more recent news, see the News page.
INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT
BIOQuébec represents all members of the life sciences innovation chain; along with healthcare technology, they form a vibrant ecosystem in Québec. While some issues apply to the industry as a whole, such as the financing chain and the marketing and integration of innovative products into the healthcare system, others only pertain to certain sectors.
STUDY ON PUBLIC POLICIES AND FINANCING:
The biotechnology and CRO industry issues 17 RECOMMANDATIONS
A government ally in the project aiming to attract $4 billion in private investments to Quebec by 2022 and make the province one of the five North American life sciences hubs, BIOQuébec is releasing the results of a major study on financing and public and regulatory policies which clearly describes the situation and identifies avenues to help us achieve our shared goals
L'INNOVATION au QUÉBEC, c'est dans notre adn!
Québec’s life sciences industry Internet advertising campaign
Campaign on Twitter
www.twitter.com/InnosanteQC
Campaign on Facebook
www.facebook.com/innovationsantequebec
SECTORS
Many participants are involved in the development and marketing of new tests, drugs, and other products and services linked to life sciences, allowing them to progress from basic research to the marketplace.
BASIC RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY
This sector consists mainly of universities and research institutes, but approximately 16% of contract research firms in Québec also offer these services. As such, these organizations initiate the discovery of new molecules, processes or technology and authenticate various concepts.
14 universities
> 200 public or parapublic research organizations
12,000 researchers
BIOTECH AND DEVELOPMENT
Biotechs are usually the ones to develop an innovation. In 2016, there were more than 130 biotechs in Québec, with half of them operating as start-ups. They are the ones that look for financing to develop their innovation; they also oversee the various organizations involved in formulating, manufacturing, performing clinical research, obtaining regulatory approval, and marketing.
$248 million annual payroll
$468 million in annual contributions to the GDP
$3.5 million in added value per biotech
TRANSFER AND FINANCING
Valorization corporations were created by the Québec government to facilitate the process of going from basic research to applied research by creating a company, a partnership or an agreement so that the innovation can proceed to the next stage. This process is also supported by various transfer organizations and investment funds specializing in life sciences.
3 valorization corporations
$326 million in venture capital financing in Quebec life sciences and Medtech in 2017
CONTRACT RESEARCH
Several organizations specialize in contract research services ranging from preclinical validation to Phase I-II-III clinical research. The nature (analysis, biostatistics, formulation, manufacturing, drafting protocols, conducting studies, etc.) and areas of specialization (dermatology, oncology, neurology, genetics, etc.) of their services in the province are quite varied.
$224 million in annual payroll
$550 million in annual sales
75% more added value per direct job
PHARMAS AND MARKETING
While some biotechs market their innovations themselves, most of them do so in alliance or partnership with other organizations. Pharmas play an important role here because of their international reach and established distribution network.
