Statement - Rx&D Welcomes Quebec's Biopharmaceutical Strategy

QUEBEC CITY, Oct. 8 /CNW Telbec/ - Russell Williams , President of Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), has made the following statement following today's publication of Quebec's Biopharmaceutical Strategy.

"We acknowledge the tremendous efforts made by the Government of Quebec that, through the Department of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade (MEDIET), has developed a promising Biopharmaceutical Strategy for the research-based pharmaceutical community in Quebec . We are delighted by this new strategy, since it precisely reflects the spirit of partnership that exists between the Government and our community.

"This Strategy follows one of the fundamental principles of Quebec's Drug Policy, namely maintaining a dynamic pharmaceutical industry. We deeply hope that this Strategy will become the best vehicle to bring concrete solutions to the preoccupations of the industry in addition to furthering its development and economic fallouts in Quebec ."

"We acknowledge the government's intent to remain open to innovative products by improving, among others, the flexibility of the provincial drug plan. Thus, the creation of an exchange forum between the MEDIET, the Department of Health and Social Services and the industry is particularly promising. This measure should improve the integration of new medicines and represent an additional motivation for the industry to continue its efforts in the fields of research and innovation."

"As we know, innovative medicines are one of the most cost-effective interventions of our health system. They help reduce the number of surgery and hospitalization and they allow patients to remain close to their families. This is why we believe that medicines and vaccines resulting from pharmaceutical research must be made available to patients immediately, since any discovery that is not accessible means a missed opportunity to improve patient health outcomes."

" Quebec decided long ago to provide greater access to innovative medicines. This has led, on the one hand, to a positive impact on population health and to savings in our health system and, on the other hand, to an increase in the collective wealth of Quebecers who benefit from the enormous fallouts of this industry."

"The research-based pharmaceutical community in Quebec is creating over 30,000 direct, indirect jobs, while injecting more than two billion dollars in the economy of our province, including over $400 million in research and development and $30 million in university hospitals each year."

"The new Strategy also takes into account the different stakeholders in the field of life sciences and acknowledges their strengths in their respective fields. We believe that the search for common goals between the private sector and organizations dedicated to life sciences, combined with the Quebec government's willingness to integrate and make cohesive actions will be the determining factor to ensure the success of this strategy."

"Throughout the years, Quebec has positioned itself favorably as a focal point in the field of life sciences. Besides excellence in the Quebec field of scientific research, tax measures - including the BAP 15 Rule, which is a provision exclusive to Quebec that recognizes the risk associated with innovation by providing for the reimbursement of a new drug over a 15-year period - the implementation of a universal drug insurance plan and the recent Drug Policy largely explain why Quebec is attracting nearly 50% of all R&D investments in the pharmaceutical field in our country."

"By launching its Biopharmaceutical Strategy, Quebec continues its coordinated approach and ensures that it will maintain a high level of competitiveness worldwide. Quebec is thus acquiring unique qualities in North America that will undoubtedly attract investors from all over the world to the life science market in Quebec ."

About Rx&D

Rx&D is an association of leading research-based biopharmaceutical companies dedicated to improving the health of all Canadians through the discovery and development of new medicines and vaccines. Our community represents 18,000 men and women working for close to 50 member companies and it invests each year more than $1 billion in research and development to fuel Canada's knowledge-based economy. Guided by our Code of Ethical Practices, our membership is committed to working in partnership with governments, healthcare professionals and stakeholders in a highly ethical manner.

For further information: François Lessard, Communications, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]