It’s time for Canada to capitalize on its life sciences potential

There’s a palpable energy in the life sciences sector worldwide. The unprecedented convergence of medical and scientific knowledge, along with technology and data science working together, is revolutionizing how we diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. Groundbreaking innovations that seemed like science fiction just five years ago are now part of everyday conversations.

The opportunity to lead these innovations is within Canada’s grasp, and we’re at a pivotal moment to emerge as a global life sciences leader. Canada already has several strengths – a highly educated workforce, world-class academic and research institutions, and key innovation hubs. The pharmaceutical sector also has a strong presence here, contributing significantly to Canadian research and the economy. Statistics Canada data shows the sector invested close to $3 billion in research and development (R&D), supported over 102,000 high-value jobs and generated $16 billion in total economic activity in 2021. With approximately 500 new products in development in Canada, as well as advancements in data collection and artificial intelligence, the future of healthcare innovation is bright.

However, the life sciences industry spans the globe and, as a result, Canada must compete with other jurisdictions for innovation and investments. As other nations become more nimble in their business and policy environments to gain a competitive edge, Canada must act swiftly to maximize its life sciences potential. This would not only improve our healthcare systems and Canadians’ lives through better preventive, diagnostic and treatment options, but it would also help attract more jobs and R&D investments to strengthen the economy. To achieve this, governments need to focus on three objectives: recognizing the broad value of health innovations, enhancing data infrastructure and continuing to collaborate with partners through various life sciences strategies to grow the sector.

The value of innovation

Canada has the opportunity to send a strong message internationally that it recognizes the extensive value of health innovations in order to attract even more innovations. The value of health innovations extends far beyond improved patient outcomes, and includes positive impacts on healthcare systems and the economy. Health innovations can free up valuable resources within healthcare systems, support health services to reduce overall costs per patient, and ensure patients get back to work and their families sooner. Canada can demonstrate it values health innovations by reducing delays and inequities in access to new treatments. While there have been positive changes to better reflect the value of innovation, such as our health technology assessment agencies now allowing societal measures to be considered in evaluations, a consistent approach is needed across the entire access continuum – from expedited clinical trials to sustainable public access – for us to keep pace with other nations.

Currently, the pathway to access new treatments in Canada is lengthy, sequential and involves several different federal, provincial, and territorial governments and agencies. According to a Conference Board of Canada report, it takes more than two years, on average, for Canadians to access new Health Canada-approved medicines through public drug plans. This is double the average time in comparable Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries such as the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Italy and Japan. 

Access to clinical trials and new medicines also varies greatly depending on where patients live. To ensure faster access for patients, governments can streamline processes to meet target timelines, build on existing international collaborations to conduct joint drug reviews, increase patient and clinician feedback throughout all levels of evaluation, and provide support for patients who need to travel for treatments. By addressing access delays and inequities, Canada would signal to the world that it values and welcomes innovation, which would help attract more clinical trials and innovations to benefit all Canadians.

Better data infrastructure

Health data is a powerful tool to inform healthcare decisions and improve health outcomes. In a 2022 survey of Canadian doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, roughly 90 per cent of respondents indicated that better sharing of patient information across care settings would improve patient experience, increase productivity, improve quality of care and increase collaboration amongst healthcare providers. Yet, health data in Canada remains siloed, and there are inconsistencies across all healthcare systems in how data is collected, stored and shared. There is an urgent need to standardize health data and build infrastructure that will ultimately help empower patients, support collaboration between healthcare providers and increase efficiencies within healthcare systems.

Governments are already taking steps to address this. Earlier this summer, the federal government announced the Connected Care for Canadians Act, which aims to enable Canadians to securely access their own health data. Federal, provincial and territorial governments are also working to implement the Shared Pan-Canadian Interoperability Roadmap, providing guidance on the standardization of health information so it can be accessed wherever patients go for care, while keeping it secure. Public and private sectors need to move quickly from strategy to action to transform patient care. Collaboration between both sectors will be key, as industry partners can provide invaluable input and tangible use cases that reflect the most urgent needs of the Canadian health data system.

High-quality data is also essential for the adoption of future innovations. Real-world evidence (RWE) derived from health data can be a valuable data source, especially when there is unmet patient need and existing evidence is limited. This is particularly relevant in areas such as rare diseases and specific cancer types where generating robust evidence in clinical trials can be challenging due to small patient populations, or in chronic conditions where long-term validation of the risk-benefit profile is essential. Several other countries, including Denmark, Belgium and Finland, already have systems that support the collection, integration and use of health data for generating RWE to support regulatory, access and clinical decision-making. Canada must adopt similar approaches if it wants to remain competitive.

Moving life sciences strategies forward

Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy, along with several other provincial initiatives, were important first steps to encourage a strong life sciences sector. The recent pandemic was a stark reminder that no one person, company or industry has the solutions to complex health challenges, and life sciences strategies provide a critical foundation to build upon. A new report by the Public Policy Forum underscored that “the best preparation for the next health security emergency is a strong, sustainable life sciences sector in Canada.” 

Governments need to continue to evolve and accelerate the implementation of life sciences strategies to attract the necessary investments, jobs and growth for Canada to become a true life sciences powerhouse. They also need to support investments in emerging health solutions like precision medicine and digital therapeutics – as well as artificial intelligence to deliver health solutions faster – to provide the best care for Canadians, ensure readiness for future health threats and position our country as a hub for future innovation.

Canada’s time is now

There’s no question Canada has all the building blocks to be a global life sciences leader. By applying best practices from other leading nations, we can create made-in-Canada solutions that will have meaningful benefits for patients, sustainable healthcare systems, and a vibrant society for current and future generations. And it will take all of us – working together each step of the way – to make that a reality.