Canadian life science clinical research and manufacturing capabilities

An important trend in the global pharmaceutical industry over the last decade has been to externalize drug R&D programs and manufacturing, including via partnerships with academia, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), government research centres as well as specialized research and manufacturing organizations. As part of this trend, Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) have become an essential part of the life science value chain, by offering comprehensive services to speed up product development plans and increase manufacturing efficiency. It is estimated that 60% of innovator small molecules and 82% of innovator biologics have their roots in research carried out outside of big pharmaceutical companies over the past decade, with manufacturing and service organizations playing an increasingly important role in supporting the growth of emerging biotechnology companies in areas that include stem cell research and engineering biology, and by providing essential support in meeting stringent regulatory reviews. This profile of Canadian CMOs and CROs provides an overview of the services of a few select Canadian organizations.