Canada's Rx&D urges government to conclude CETA with EU on improved IP

Commenting on the imminent conclusion of the ninth round of trade talks between Canada and the European Union toward Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Russell Williams, president of Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), said: “From the onset we have been supportive of increased trade with the EU and the opportunity to attract a greater share of the $100 billion invested annually in life sciences research and development around the world.”

While the Rx&D has been strongly supportive of the CETA proposals, which include improvements of the intellectual property regime, they have been vehemently opposed by the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA; The Pharma letters October 12 and June 11).

Mr Williams continued: “In 2010, Rx&D members invested $1.3 billion in health research and development in Canada. Moreover, Rx&D members’ investments into Canada have increased by 1,500 per cent over the past 25 years. CETA provides us with a once in a generation opportunity to make incremental improvements to our intellectual property regime to levels equivalent with our major trading partners. These changes will yield huge dividends for Canada. We can boost our competitiveness and close the innovation gap while simultaneously driving better health outcomes for Canadians.”