the last word

By Andrew Casey

BIOTECH INNOVATION:

the New Ecosystem

Andrew casey, President and CEO, BIOTECanada

Today’s global population has surpassed the seven billion mark. By 2050, it is predicted to grow to more than nine billion people. This exponential growth brings with it enormous opportunities, as nine billion people will require more effi cient and effective ways to deliver health care, grow food and manufacture goods. At the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology held earlier this summer in Montréal, we witnessed fi rsthand the interconnected ecosystem of partnerships being developed and nurtured in this industry. Canada, having a strong foundation in plant innovation in areas such as Saskatchewan, harnessed agronomics to develop canola into a commercial crop that is now being used to replace non-renewable alternatives for biofuels, industrial lubricants, and cosmetics.

From a human health perspective we are seeing an aging population and the rapid emergence and discovery of new diseases and illnesses. Thankfully, innovations such as the mapping of the human genome have enabled researchers to better understand these health challenges and develop targeted medicines to relieve, cure and even prevent illness. In this global challenge and corresponding solutions lies an enormous economic and social opportunity for Canada and its biotechnology industry.

Canada is home to a vibrant biotech industry of more than 500 established and emerging companies. BIOTECanada members refl ect the type of biotech sector found in this country. It is an industry of great diversity with an array of entities including large, multinational brand pharmaceutical companies and small and medium sized companies. In addition to health and pharmaceuticals the biotech sector represents an important part of ensuring Canada’s industrial and agricultural sectors are competitive in the global economy. Similar to other Canadian industry sectors, Ontario and Québec are home to signifi cant biotech clusters. However, one of the truly special features of Canada’s biotech sector, indeed one of its core strengths, is the biotech clusters found in each province stretching from coast-to-coast.

This diverse array of company types and strong regional clusters bodes well for Canada as a new biotech-pharma business model begins to take shape globally. The traditional way of developing new medicines through a ‘one-stop shopping’ kind of concept where large, brand name companies internally discover, develop, test and ultimately commercialize a medicine or therapy is becoming the Walkman in an iPad world. The new product development pipeline of today’s biopharma industry is one where large companies partner with or invest in the smaller domestic innovators. It is these partnerships and investments that are delivering gamechanging therapies and drugs. In this context, Canada represents fertile territory for innovation and product development.

Importantly, in the context of the emerging biotech ecosystem, Canada has in place many of the components critical for global competitiveness and success. Indeed, Canada is home to worldclass universities and research institutes, biotech entrepreneurs, a signifi cant multinational industry presence, and a highly educated and dedicated workforce. In addition, cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal are home to biotech incubators that support and grow the emerging companies and also help facilitate the partnerships between these emerging companies and the established multi-nationals. Within these city clusters there are commercialization and incubator organizations that bring together the various industry players including innovators, partners and investors. Ultimately these organizations facilitate research, development and commercialization of new therapies and medicines.

The Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD), in Vancouver is a fully-integrated national drug development and commercialization centre, providing expertise, infrastructure and the capacity to partner thereby enabling researchers from leading health institutions to advance promising early-stage medicines. CDRD bridges the commercialization gap and supports the transformation of publicly funded health discoveries into viable investment opportunities for the private sector.

In Toronto, MaRS Discovery unites science, technology and social entrepreneurs. Providing research labs, offi ces, and event facilities, MaRS joins innovators from the private and public spheres. Accelerator initiatives (such as the $7 million life sciences fund) allow for investment into companies with the potential to be global leaders.

Montréal-based NEOMED helps drive drug discovery activities up to the stage of human proof-of-concept. Once accomplished, these de-risked projects provide signifi cant value for NEOMED’s downstream partners. Launched in response to the changing pharma research and development business model, this publicprivate partnership with government and biopharmaceutical companies fi lls the gap between basic research and later stage drug development.

The regional clusters supported by organizations such as CDRD, MaRS and NEOMED are central to Canada’s ability to successfully grow a thriving biotech sector. Each of these organizations leverages the strengths of their respective regions including established and emerging companies, universities and investors, to drive innovation and strengthen the industry more broadly. All told, our growing biotech industry supported by new partnerships and pipeline development will deliver signifi cant dividends going forward for both Canada and the world.

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