Covid-19’s influence on the government-LifeSci relationship
Andrew Casey of BIOTECanada says while the relationship has changed, the question remains whether or not it is a short-or long-term state of affairs(600 words, 4 min.)
NPC Healthbiz Weekly is presented to you in cooperation with Peak Pharma Solutions
While Covid-19 has created many challenges for Pharma over the past year, one positive is the strengthened government-industry relationship that has developed through the pandemic. That’s according to Andrew Casey, the President and CEO of BIOTECanada.
He discussed the evolving relationship between Pharma and the federal and provincial governments during his presentation at the 14th National Pharmaceutical Congress.
“I think it's fairly clear that there is a new relationship,” Casey (photo below) said. “Governments were turning to us [early in the pandemic], putting up a bat signal to the industry to saying, ‘come and save us’. It's the first time in a long time [this has happened].”
With a recognition by government that in order to return to normal, vaccines and therapeutics would be necessary and that both innovations would need to come from Pharma, a new working relationship has formed during the pandemic, Casey said.
As vaccine rollouts slowly continue to ramp up and a return to normal becomes more of a likelihood, one area governments will have to start to focus on is rebuilding the economy.
While some sectors such as tourism, hotels and air transportation may be slow to recover in the new normal, according to Casey, this could provide an opportunity for Pharma. He suggests as governments look to new sectors to help rebuild the economy, Pharma could benefit.
“I think the government is looking to this sector as a way of rebuilding,” said Casey. “There is a bit of an open window of opportunity here to take what we have already done [with vaccines and therapeutics], we have shown that we can deliver those, that value proposition is there. Now the government is looking to the future and that does open the window for the government to work with Pharma.”
Though it is clear the relationship between Pharma and governments has changed during Covid-19, Casey said the question remains whether the evolution is a short-term or long-term situation.
“I think the question around the relationship changes is it one of those where they are saying, ‘thank you very much’ and they are calling us a cab, or is it something that is a little bit more long term,” he said. “I think we want this to be a more long-term relationship.”
The takeaway: Casey notes the relationship between Pharma and government has changed as a consequence of the pandemic, and will continue to evolve moving forward. He added it is important for Pharma to understand that the relationship has changed on the government’s side as well.
“I think if we can be creative bring forward solutions, we're going to find ourselves in a good spot,” he said. “We have to figure out what that opportunity is for us as an industry and align it with what the government objectives are.”
Further reading: Maclean’s recently published an article looking at the Canadian government’s relationship with Big Pharma. Story here.
YOUR HEALTHBIZ WEEK 03/02/21
According to a report from The Canadian Press, Estee Lauder has reached an agreement to buy Canadian skincare company Deciem Beauty Group at a valuation of US $2.2 billion. The deal will see Estee Lauder purchase the Toronto-based company behind the skincare brand The Ordinary in two phases. The first phase of the deal, which is expected to close by June 30, will see the company increase its stake in Deciem to 76 per cent from 29 per cent for US$1 billion. The American skincare manufacturer has agreed to buy the remaining interests after three years at an amount to be determined based on Deciem's future performance.
Novo Nordisk and the University of Toronto announced a CAD 40 million investment to establish the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations. The network will focus on new ways to support healthier urban populations and draw on the University of Toronto’s expertise in public health research and education programs to impact the global fight against diabetes and other serious chronic diseases. Based at the University of Toronto’s Mississauga campus, the network will be a partnership between the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the University of Toronto Mississauga.
Sanofi Canada announced that Health Canada approved DUPIXENT® (dupilumab injection) to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in children aged six to 11 years whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not advisable. Dupilumabis a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the signalling of the interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) proteins and is not an immunosuppressant. Data from the dupilumab clinical trials have shown that IL-4 and IL-13 are key drivers of the type 2 inflammation that plays a major role in AD, asthma, and severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.
NATIONAL PHARMA CONGRESS SPRING WEBINAR
As announced during the National Pharma Congress Winter Webinar, plans are in the works for a spring webinar scheduled for Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Be sure to subscribe to the NPC HealthBiz Weekly for updates on the winter meeting.
CANADIAN HEALTHCARE MARKETING HALL OF FAME
The Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame awards were established in 2002 to honour healthcare marketers who have contributed to our avocation and are an inspiration to others.
More than 100 honourees have been selected during the past 18 years. In the selection committee's view, they stand for a representative cross-section of the qualities that make our business unique and fulfilling. Each week, NPC Healthbiz Weekly will acknowledge one past Hall of Fame Honouree.
2015 Inductee
Barry Fishman
Merus Labs
Toronto
Editor’s note: Barry served as CEO of Merus Labs from 2014 to 2017. More recently, he was the CEO of VIVO Cannabis from 2017 to 2020.
Barry Fishman has had a highly successful career in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 30 years. He has been the CEO of three separate pharmaceutical companies: Taro Pharmaceuticals from 2000 to 2003, Teva Canada from 2008 to 2014, and Merus Labs.
Ironically, his success stands in contrast to the struggles from his early life. Orphaned at age 17, Fishman had to take care of himself with limited funds and his older brother, who had special needs.
Inspired by those struggles, Fishman and his wife Lynda, who herself lost immediate family members at a young age, have dedicated time and effort to helping those in the community. “I’m very keen on giving back to the community because when I was young, I suffered some personal tragedies. And after my career advanced to a certain point, I was ready to start giving back and helping people in the community who are less fortunate than I am,” said Fishman.
This giving forward has taken many forms. During his time at Teva Canada, he directed the company’s charitable works toward the Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation. Fishman has been a long-time member of the board, which raises funds for childhood cancer research and provides post-secondary educational grants to hundreds of survivors of childhood cancer.
This year, Fishman volunteered as a group leader at Camp Erin Toronto, a summer camp for children who have experienced the loss of an immediate family member. “They gather kids from the GTA and beyond who have lost a sibling or a parent. They run a great program for grieving children, including a mixture of fun camp programs grief activities.”
Fishman has also volunteered as a session instructor at the Ve’Ahavta Street Academy, a Toronto-based adult essential skills program that works with George Brown College to provide at-risk and marginally housed individuals with training in communication, social, and job skills.
More directly related to medicine and the pharma industry, Fishman has been a past member of the Markham-Stouffville Hospital board and past chair of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association.
As much as he has already done, Fishman says he plans only to increase his efforts to aid the community, make a difference and help those who are less fortunate.
NEXT WEEK
The 03/09 edition of NPC Healthbiz Weekly will feature Paul Petrelli, General Manager of Jazz Pharmaceuticals Canada, on the opportunity Covid-19 has presented for evolution in Pharma. It’s easy to get your no-charge subscription and have the issue sent to your phone or inbox each Tuesday at 6:00 a.m. sharp.
Stay safe, stay sure, and stay on your game. We’ll see you again next Tuesday.