ROCHE CANADA
ONTARIO By Laura Knox-Wallar
LOCAL TALENT, GLOBAL AMBITION
WHY ROCHE CHOSE ONTARIO FOR ITS GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT SITE In 2011, through the efforts of Roche Canada’s executive team and the Government of Ontario, the Mississauga-based Canadian affiliate won the bid to house one of five global pharmaceutical development sites for Roche, the world’s largest biotechnology company. In a province where innovation, collaboration and a knowledge-based economy are high priorities, it is no wonder why Swiss healthcare giant Hoffmann–La Roche chose to bring 200 of the brightest biotech minds in the world to its Roche Canada headquarters in Mississauga, ON. Roche Canada president and CEO Ronnie Miller believes Ontario was an ideal location for the site. “There are certainly advantages for us to house the pharmaceutical development site here. For starters, the company has built strong relationships both in Canada, innovating here since 1931, and within Ontario forging relationships and making connections with the province’s scientific community.” He also has high praise for the Ontario government, both for its commitment to the biotech and life science sectors in the province, and for supporting the bid to house the site with a financial commitment of $7.79 million from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. “They have reached out, they have been good partners and they have tried to encourage investment in the sector. Like us they are trying to stimulate business in Ontario, and Ontario’s strategic priority in the life sciences is clear. It’s easy to align ourselves with the Ontario government’s innovation agenda, promot-
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Biotechnology Focus / April 2013
Roche Canada president and CEO, Ronnie Miller
ing excellence in research and investing in global opportunities. It makes Ontario an attractive jurisdiction to invest in as well as an attractive partner. These factors made it easier for us to sell the idea of expanding operations in Ontario to our parent company.” In terms of its position within the company, Roche Canada is known for punching above its commercial weight. This coupled with the strong long-term relationship that already exists with the research community in Ontario, beginning with the establishment of its head office here in 1986, were all key reasons that Ontario was chosen to house the site. According to Miller, with such high stakes in the research and development sector, Roche’s decision to grow its R&D expertise in Ontario correlates with local government’s high strategic priority on the life sciences as well as the province’s reputation for excellence in education and innovation. Moreover, the political climate in Ontario is hospitable for those in the
business of innovation and will aid the five year $190 million dollar expansion project of the pharmaceutical development site for Roche. “What has been good is the government of Ontario’s intention to develop an innovation based economy and they are trying very hard to do that. We worked very well in partnership with the provincial and federal government. It is one of those areas that is very difficult to align and we were aligned.” The centre will build on the clinical expertise within the Roche global network focusing on managing clinical trials currently underway in more than 60 countries. At the same time, it provides medical writing and biostatics, and supports other Roche sites around the world. Individuals at the centre manage operations for all stages of global clinical trial research, significantly contributing to the development of highly innovative medicines to benefit patients worldwide. The site also complements Roche’s current activities in Canada. The company’s strong clinical research base in the province is another factor that propelled Roche Canada to the top of the competitive list of jurisdictions around the world being considered for the newest global pharmaceutical development site. Miller also pointed to issues of practicality and logistics while discussing the decision to place Roche’s global pharmaceutical development site in Mississauga. “Travelling is the nature of the beast these days and Toronto is well placed for travel all over the world. With our main headquarters in Switzerland and our main development site in California, Ontario offers a geographic middle ground for Roche, in trying to communicate and operate across time zones. This is a benefit that could apply to many biotechnology companies based in Europe or California,
