One of the world´s most successful pharmaceutical companies is continually expanding its Canadian operations. AstraZeneca Canada—which has an R&D; facility in Montreal and field offices across the country—has invested $21 million in the ongoing construction of an amenities building at its head office in Mississauga.
Dedicated to discovering new ideas to improve the lives of patients, AztraZeneca has a vision to become the global leader in pain control medications. Its Montreal pre-clinical research and discovery centre is a cornerstone of that goal. “There is a huge need worldwide for better medication to manage chronic and acute pain,” says Dr. Philippe Walker, Vice President, Discovery, AstraZeneca R&D; Montreal (AZRDM). He believes the company is on track to deliver potential “blockbuster” drugs that will have significantly fewer side effects than those currently on the market.
Headquartered in London, England, AstraZeneca had examined potential sites throughout North America before deciding on Montreal for its Discovery Centre in 1994.. “Our head office concluded that it was in our best interests to develop in Quebec, and Montreal came out on top,” adds Dr. Walker. “Fiscal and financial factors obviously influenced our decision, but it is the wealth of local intellectual capital that convinced us to set up here.” AZRDM collaborates with some of the world´s foremost pain researchers at the University of Montreal and McGill University.
Favourable patent protection legislation was another important consideration, adds Dr. Walker. “It takes 12 to 15 years to bring a drug to market, so R&D; goes where intellectual property is supported and protected.” On top of Canada´s 20-year patent exclusivity for pharmaceutical products, the Quebec government´s health insurance program allows for product reimbursement up to 15 years after an innovative drug is listed on its formulary of approved medications. The government also helped to pave the way with investment incentives and R&D; tax credits.Over the past decade, AZRDM has invested a total of $315 million in its state-of-the-art facility, which today boasts 130 employees, 85 percent of whom are recruited from local universities.