As originally published on the Health Insight website here, October 2024.
Authored by: Dr. Bettina Hamelin President, Innovative Medicines Canada
With the right support, life sciences could be Canada’s next boom.
In 2014, West Africa was gripped by the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history. But during devastation, a ray of hope arrived: a vaccine developed at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory was deployed to Guinea. Thousands received it—and not one vaccinated person fell ill. That vaccine, now licensed by Merck, has been approved for global use.
This wasn’t an isolated success. From the discovery of insulin in 1921, to foundational HIV treatments in the 1980s, to the lipid nanoparticle behind mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and the basic discovery of artificial intelligence, Canada has quietly delivered world-changing breakthroughs.
Today, as Canada reconsiders our economic future and global trade strategies, it’s time to bring life sciences to the forefront—not just as a public health priority, but as an economic engine for national prosperity.
And this engine needs to fire on all cylinders now!
Why invest now?
While the U.S. has long been the epicenter of medical innovation, proposed cuts of up to 40% in U.S. federal science funding open a new door for Canada to grow domestically and lead globally, together with other like-minded countries.
We already have a strong foundation. More than 2,000 life sciences firms employ 220,000 Canadians and contribute $82 billion to our GDP. Global giants like Roche, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Sanofi, and GSK are already investing in Canadian facilities and biotechnology research and development. Homegrown companies like AbCellera in Vancouver and Deep Genomics in Toronto, successful through both public and private funding, are delivering next-generation treatments using cutting-edge technologies.
With the right policies and partnerships, we can build a thriving Canadian life sciences sector that saves lives, creates jobs, and generates long-term prosperity.
Where can Canada lead?
- Biomanufacturing and Advanced Therapies
Biologics are medicines made from living cells that are revolutionizing treatments for cancer, autoimmune conditions, and rare diseases. Expanding domestic biomanufacturing means more high-skilled jobs and new global export opportunities.
- Digital Health and Health AI
Artificial Intelligence is transforming drug discovery, diagnostics, and personalized care. With AI hubs in Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton, multinationals like Roche and Sanofi opening global AI hubs, and innovators like Deep Genomics already producing the world’s first AI-discovered drug candidate, Canada is well-positioned to lead, if we invest wisely and modernize regulations.
- Genomics and Personalized Medicine
Canada’s universal health system and diverse population make it an ideal testing ground for precision medicine—treatments tailored to an individual’s genetic profile. Organizations like Genome Canada and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research are laying the groundwork for global leadership in this space.
From promise to prosperity
A single Canadian breakthrough can generate billions in exports and create thousands of high-value jobs, while saving millions of lives around the world. But to make that happen, we must act now—by investing more and improving our regulatory environment.
It’s time for Canadian life sciences to take the lead.
