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gsk is taking an innovative approach to improving health care in canada. here’s what you need to know
from a continued investment in r and d to its adoption of new technologies, gsk’s focus on prevention puts patients first
since 2001, gsk’s global operations have invested more than $2 billion in canadian r&d for medicines and vaccines. supplied
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gsk canada
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
health-care innovation in the world of medicines and vaccines is playing an increasingly prevalent role in getting ahead of disease and improving the health and well-being of patients. preventive health care is also a key strategy in alleviating the growing burden on the health-care system, says michelle horn, gsk canada’s interim country medical director. “canada’s aging population and associated chronic diseases are taking a greater toll than ever before. furthermore, infectious diseases continue to evolve and spread, putting unsustainable pressure on health systems and economies.”
horn adds that earlier interventions and vaccinations across all ages can alter disease progression and prevent complications, easing pressure on health systems. “advances in science and technology now enable us to better get ahead of diseases, from life-course vaccines to innovations that reduce transmission or manage chronic conditions.”
gsk’s pipeline and portfolio are testaments to its patient-centric approach to prevention and early treatment. the company has developed one of the broadest vaccine portfolios in the industry to help protect patients across all age groups, from childhood to older adults. its vaccines span various types of infections including seasonal and chronic infections as well as bacterial and fungal pathogens.
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michelle horn, gsk canada’s interim country medical director. supplied
this commitment to developing vaccines is even more relevant today as growing antimicrobial resistance makes treating some bacterial infections more challenging. by preventing these infections through vaccination programs, gsk is helping to address this global health challenge.
globally, gsk delivers one and a half million doses of vaccines every day as part of gsk’s overall ambition to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by 2031.
true to its innovation roots, gsk was the first to introduce a vaccine to protect older adults against the respiratory syncytial virus (rsv) and was also the first to pioneer hiv treatments in 1990.
investment in canadian health research
research and development (r&d) is a prime focus for gsk’s operations in canada. since 2001, gsk’s global operations have invested more than $2 billion in canadian r&d for medicines and vaccines. its robust pipeline aims to deliver substantial and differentiated impact for patients, offering new solutions that will continue to raise the standards of care. there are currently 19 candidate vaccines in that pipeline — many of which have the potential to be first — or best-in-class.
canada has also ranked as one of the leading centres for the global organization’s clinical trials, says bernadette fernandes, regional director of clinical operations — americas for gsk. “for the past five years, canada’s robust research and academic networks, coupled with a reliable regulatory system has made canada a priority country for gsk clinical trials. a status granted only to a few countries worldwide.”
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gsk collaborates closely with canadian sites — such as hospitals and other health-care centres — to operationalize its trials. for example, the qeii health sciences centre in halifax, nova scotia, has been selected as the inaugural global site for an exploratory new trial, with the first patient enrolled for colon cancer treatment.
bernadette fernandes, regional director of clinical operations — americas for gsk. supplied
in 2023, gsk invested over $18.4 million into 53 active clinical trials across canada involving 3,334 active subjects, part of its overall investments of over $121 million in r&d in canada. it also sponsored 28 canadian research projects to support scientific understanding of medicines and vaccines — a pace that promises to continue through the end of the year and into 2025.
additionally, gsk invested another $7 million in grants, including $4.5 million to major canadian universities, $1.5 million to the gsk chair in virology at the university of alberta’s li ka shing institute of virology, and $1 million to the halifax-based canadian centre for vaccinology.
leading in adoption of technology
one of the pillars to gsk canada’s success in achieving world-leading status in vaccines and medicines is its whole-hearted adoption of cutting-edge technology and scientific innovation. this includes ai and machine learning.
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“ai and machine learning are invaluable tools in enabling powerful data processing capabilities,” says fernandes. “with ai and machine learning we can now receive blinded data at gsk in real time and more closely monitor progress and quality.
“we can look at trends, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and potential safety issues much faster than ever before. this capability has matured significantly over the past 10 years. our digital tools are facilitating faster and higher quality data collection.”
the immense power of data processing capabilities is demonstrated in the increasingly rapid development of vaccines. “the speed of development had a lot to do with the ability of drug developers to bring in new technology and maximize efficiency,” says fernandes.
clinical research in canada is also benefiting from collaboration between health-care institutions, industry and government. working in partnership with catalis in quebec, gsk broke new ground in achieving oncology trial startups in eight weeks — one of the fastest turnaround times in the world, says fernandes.
“it used to take months to start oncology clinical trials, but now, through vital collaboration and partnerships, we’re able to begin much more quickly. this efficiency is crucial, not just for us, but for the patients whose lives depend on timely access to innovative treatments. for oncology patients especially, where every day can make a difference, faster clinical trials can truly change outcomes.”
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commitment to diversity in clinical trials
beyond canada’s innovation strengths, the country’s diversity also presents a rich clinical trial environment for gsk’s global operations. enhancing the diversity of clinical trial participants is a critical step towards combatting health-care disparities and enabling health equity, as it can lead to better insights, decision-making and creative solutions.
it is essential that clinical trials reflect populations most impacted by disease, says horn. “our aim is to remove barriers and ensure that clinical trials are inclusive and representative of diverse patient populations across age, geographical location, ethnicity, gender, race and sex. we strive to make these trials as accessible as possible, reflecting the broad range of individuals who can benefit from our research and development efforts.”
another marker of gsk canada’s strength is reflected in its high-quality research and delivery of results, she adds. “we have long-standing relationships with collaborators, including thought leaders, hospitals, government initiatives and associations. the network we have built allows us to conduct trials across the country, including expansion to more remote areas. together we can work to improve the efficiency of clinical trials, expand our footprint and increase capabilities at different sites across canada.”
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she adds that gsk’s proactive approach to prevention is key to addressing both current and future health challenges facing canada’s health-care system. “every day we are proving that innovation and collaboration — with a focus on putting patients first — can lead to remarkable results for patients in canada and around the world.”
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of gsk canada.
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