What does it take for a pharma start-up to succeed?
How company values shape organizational culture and drive innovation (Issue #316, 1,375 words, 7 minutes)
Good morning, and welcome to the NPC Healthbiz Weekly e-newsletter from the National Pharmaceutical Congress and Chronicle Companies.
For pharma startups, success hinges on more than research breakthroughs and innovative products. The ability to cultivate a thriving organizational culture, adapt to unique market demands, and navigate the complexities of leadership in a lean environment are equally crucial and can make or break a startup’s journey. At the 18th Annual National Pharmaceutical Congress, a panel discussion brought together three experienced leaders in the industry to share their insights on building and managing startups in Canada.
Colleen Coxson, Country General Manager of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, emphasized the critical role of culture in shaping a successful startup. She stressed that culture is not just an intangible concept but a set of social and behavioural norms that guide employee interactions and work practices. Coxson highlighted the importance of aligning company values with culture. “Your core values are where your whole culture starts,” she said. “If your company does a good job living your core values, your culture will come through.” She added that at Alnylam, the focus on innovation, open communication, and a sense of urgency emphasizes excellence and prioritizing patient care
Carol Stiff outlined some key insights for those considering a general manager role in a Canadian startup. The General Manager of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Canada stressed the importance of having a broad and deep understanding of the Canadian market. She highlighted the value of saying yes to opportunities that may initially push you outside of your comfort zone, noting that such experiences can help position people for leadership roles. She also underscored the critical role of networking in securing such positions since startup general manager roles are rarely advertised. “Start small, stay in touch, and you’ll build a huge network over time,” she said. “Networking is not about self-promotion; it’s about staying connected and genuinely helping each other.”
The role of a general manager in a startup differs significantly from that in larger companies. Still, according to Kevin Leshuk, President and CEO of FORUS Therapeutics, there are some commonalities. “Across the industry, you need to have some fundamentals such as integrity, intellect, and patient-centricity,” he said. “There must be a common orientation toward execution excellence, communication skills, business acumen, and a science-based approach. All of these skills are transferable.” Leshuk also emphasized that it is important for general managers in startups to have a broad range of experiences—they often need to wear multiple hats and make decisions across various functional areas. He added that while the paths to the executive suite may vary, the ultimate goal across all sectors remains the same: making a meaningful impact in the healthcare landscape.
THIS WEEK 02/04/25
Novartis announced that Nova Scotia will be publicly funding lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan injection (Pluvicto), providing access to all eligible patients in the province. Pluvicto is a targeted radioligand therapy for the treatment of adult patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
The U.S. FDA approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ suzetrigine (Journavx), an oral, non-opioid, highly selective NaV1.8 pain signal inhibitor for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe acute pain.
Héma-Québec has added Takeda’s normal immunoglobulin [human] 10% and recombinant human hyaluronidase solution for subcutaneous infusion (HyQvia) to its list of plasma products distributed in Quebec. The treatment will now be reimbursed for adult and pediatric patients two years of age and older.
The U.S. FDA has approved Celltrion’s CT-P47, tocilizumab-anoh (Avtozma), as an intravenous and subcutaneous formulation biosimilar to Actemra. Avtozma is indicated for treating rheumatoid arthritis, giant cell arteritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and Covid-19.
NOW LISTEN UP: HERE’S TOM SLOWE OF BREADCRUMB ANALYTICS
In season 13 of the NPC Podcast, Tom Slowe, CEO of Breadcrumb Analytics, gives insights into using AI to sort and sift through statistics, the importance of context with data, and why AI should only supplement human work. Hear him in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea, and Mark McElwain.
REGISTER NOW FOR THE NPC LIVE WINTER WEBINAR ON FEBRUARY 12 AT 11 AM EDT
What kind of year ahead can we expect in the life sciences industry in Canada? That’s the question everyone is asking. Get real answers on 02/12 when the National Pharmaceutical Congress presents the 2025 Winter Webinar, featuring Dr. Bettina Hamelin of Innovative Medicines Canada, Brian Bloom of Bloom Burton & Co., and the one and only Peter Brenders in a free-wheeling panel discussion moderated by Ben Parry of Pangaea Group and Mitch Shannon of Chronicle Companies. Register for free and be prepared to ask the experts during this one-hour virtual event. Sign up using the link below.
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 vocation and inspire others.
More than 100 honourees have been selected during the past 22 years. In the selection committee’s view, they represent a cross-section of the qualities that make our business unique and fulfilling. NPC Healthbiz Weekly will acknowledge the 2024 Hall of Fame Honorees over the next few weeks. Nominate a colleague for the 2025 Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame by clicking here.
2024 Inductee
Robert Tam
General Manager
Taiho Pharma Canada
Oakville, Ont.
For Robert Tam, General Manager of Taiho Pharma Canada, Inc., the most rewarding moments in his career come from seeing patients thrive from gaining access to life-changing medications. This benefit can ripple across the healthcare system. Tam began his career in the public sector as a Health Economist at Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. Driven by a passion for helping patients, he soon transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry, taking on roles at Bayer, Parke-Davis, Nycomed, UCB, Sanofi, and now Taiho.
Reflecting on his career, Tam is proud of the varied therapeutic areas he's contributed to and the patients who have benefited from advancements in the industry. “There’s nothing more satisfying than receiving a letter from a government or insurer confirming our product is now on formulary and accessible to patients,” he says. “It’s an incredible feeling of pride and accomplishment for the entire team.”
Tam’s journey in health economics and market access was inspired in 1991 during his studies at the University of Ottawa. After writing a paper on the determinants of cost-effectiveness, he discovered a landmark publication by Dr. Andreas Laupacis on cost-effectiveness thresholds in health technology assessment. “Health economists from that era remember it well,” Tam explains. “This paper was a pivotal policy position that still influences our field today and inspired my path in government and the pharmaceutical industry.”
After his public sector role, Tam entered the industry by answering a newspaper ad for Bayer and has remained committed ever since. One of his proudest accomplishments was building a market access and government relations team at Byk Canada (later Altana, Nycomed, and now Takeda) from the ground up. “I wasn’t entirely sure of the roadmap, but when a team shares a vision and common purpose, anything can be achieved.”
Mentorship has been vital to Tam’s journey. He has been guided by industry luminaries, including his first boss, Ben Faienza, and Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame alumni John Suk and Peter Brenders. “They are all great teachers and role models.”
Two core lessons have shaped Tam’s leadership philosophy. “Keep building and refreshing your network, learn from it, and give back. Staying connected keeps you sharp, and those relationships can be deeply enriching expected ways,” he says. His second piece of advice? “Treat every employee with respect and compassion. Empower them to make decisions, allow them to make mistakes, and learn from them. I don’t need or want to be the smartest person in the room. When a team works together, small increments can have big impacts. When our teams feel valued and are patient-centred, they bring their best, most passionate selves to the work we do.”
INTRODUCING DERMATOLOGY.BUSINESS and the DERMATOLOGY.BUSINESS DEEP DIVE PODCAST
Check out Dermatology.Business, the new newsletter from the same wonderful, supremely talented people who bring you NPC Healthbiz Weekly. Now, you can dive deeper into the Dermasphere with our supplemental podcast. Both are published every other Wednesday at precisely 6:00 a.m. EDT. Dermatology.Business has all the breaking news reported directly from the Dermasphere. Find it here and request your free subscription. Listen to the Dermatology.Business Deep Dive podcast is on the player below.
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