NRC researchers help improve the quality of life in Canada and around the world by developing drugs and finding new uses for plants. Our researchers are studying neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and battling infectious diseases with vaccines and immunotherapies.

The Industry Sector

Canada ranks as the 8th largest world market in pharmaceuticals sales. An 8% annual growth makes Canada the 4th fastest growing market, after China, Mexico and Spain. In 2005, the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry employed about 40,000 people. A further 35,000 indirect jobs come from this industry.

Total business expenditures on research and development by Canadian pharmaceutical companies reached $1.25 billion in 2005.

According to Statistics Canada, there are over 260 pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing establishments in Canada, employing over 30,000 people. R&D costs per drug in 2005 averaged US$605 million for chemical pharma and US$559 million for bio-pharma over 12-13 years.

There are significant opportunities for optimizing speed of development in SMEs, for developing infrastructure/technologies to support the SMEs in the development of their products; and for increasing market valuation of our industrial partners.

Potential Contributing NRC Institutes

NRC-IBS, NRC-BRI, NRC-IBD, NRC-IMB/ NRC-INH, NRC-IMI, NRC-NINT, NRC-SIMS, and NRC-IMS

Technology Platforms Currently Under Consideration

compounds < candidate of viability assess to studies proof-of-concept undertake - Platform Technology Assessment>
Compound Management and Screening Facility – providing high throughput screening; virtual screening, ADMET

Micro-Dosing Technology Development - helping companies determine whether it makes sense to move a candidate from preclinical to phase I trials.

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