A hive of creativity

Québec is one of the few places in the world where firms can cover the entire development cycle for drugs and medical devices.

• 350 companies and 26,400 jobs.
• Some $461 million in R&D spending by pharmaceutical research companies, i.e., 41% of their spending in Canada.
• The number-one spot in North America for direct foreign investments in the biopharmaceutical industry.
• The 10 biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world have facilities in Québec.
• Home to 15 or so Canadian head offices of pharmaceutical multinationals.
• 29% of Canadian venture capital in life sciences is invested in Québec.
• More than 5,000 researchers belonging to more than 300 public research health groups.

Québec’s fields of expertise:

• cardiology
• oncology
• Infectiology and immunology
• neurology
• genomics and proteomics

Main success factors for the biopharmaceutical and medical supplies sectors:

• Extraordinary collaboration among businesses, research centres, universities and the provincial government.
• Presence of four faculties of medicine (Université de Montréal, McGill University, Université Laval and Université de Sherbrooke).
• 19 research centres funded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS).

Egrifta™ is the first and only treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. The product, developed by Québec-based Theratechnologies, will be distributed worldwide.

Singulair™ (montelukast sodium) is a significant innovation in the treatment of asthma. It was discovered and developed by scientists at the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research in Montréal.

The FluLaval® vaccine for seasonal influenza was developed in Québec by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Lamivudine (3TC®, Epivir®) was developed by a Québec biotech company. Initially marketed by GSK, lamivudine is an active ingredient in several HIV therapies such as Combivir®, Trizivir®, Kivexa® and Epzicom®. Lamivudine is currently marketed by ViiV Healthcare.

Labopharm markets two products developed in Québec and approved for use in Canada and the United States. The first is once-daily Tramadol®, an analgesic designed to treat moderate to severe pain. The second is Oleptro™, a novel formulation of trazodone used in the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults.

Medtronic Cryocath developed and markets the Arctic Front® catheter, a safe, effective device for treating cardiac arrhythmia by cryoablation.

TSO3 developed STERIZONE®, a sterilization system for heat- and moisture-sensitive medical instruments.

The life sciences industry has been at the core of Québec’s emergence as a creative and innovative economy. Not surprisingly, this industry has also made the best use of the powerful business and financing synergies that drive this economy.

Québec’s biopharmaceutical strategy

Québec has adopted an ambitious biopharmaceutical strategy to step up development and research spinoffs, support the development of biotechnology firms, support the development of big biopharmaceutical firms, maintain a labour force able to meet the industry’s needs and promote Québec’s international image as a biopharmaceutical hub.

Québec’s drug policy

Québec’s drug policy is the first socioeconomic policy of its kind in North America. Its integrated strategy ensures better access to prescription medications for the economically disadvantaged population while promoting an appropriate use of drugs. The policy also acknowledges the importance of the innovative pharmaceutical industry’s economic contributions and encourages its growth.

The 15-year rule: exclusive to Québec!

This rule ensures that manufacturers of innovative pharmaceuticals will be reimbursed the full price of their product for a 15-year period following its registration on a list of medications, even if the patent has expired and a generic equivalent is available at a lesser cost.

Québec Consortium for Drug Discovery

The Québec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CQDM), an innovative initiative in Canada, brings together the different players involved in drug research. Its structure follows a public-private partnership model and it has a two-pronged focus: to accelerate the drug discovery process and to develop safer and more effective drugs. The needs of the pharmaceutical industry are a top priority for the CQDM.