About CGPA

Who We Are

The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) represents manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceutical products, manufacturers and distributors of active pharmaceutical chemicals, and suppliers of other goods and services to the generic pharmaceutical industry.

For more than 50 years, Canada’s generic pharmaceutical industry has played a vital role in the country’s health-care system and its economy by providing safe, effective, proven alternatives to more expensive brand-name medicines.

Jobs

• The generic pharmaceutical industry employs more than 11, 000 Canadians in well-paid, highly skilled jobs in research and development, manufacturing and other operations.

Innovation

• The generic pharmaceutical industry spends approximately $615-million annually on research and development in Canada.
• Generic pharmaceutical companies in Canada invest approximately 15% of sales in research and development.

Exports

• Canada’s generic drug industry generates 40% of its sales volume from exporting made-in-Canada pharmaceuticals, primarily to the United States.

Manufacturing

• In terms of who is doing what in Canada, most brand-name drugs sold in Canada are shipped into the country. Almost all generic drugs sold in Canada are made right here. In fact, the majority of the pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity that exists in Canada is generic.

Key Economic Numbers: Brand vs. Generic

Sales In Canada Jobs R & D Spending Brand $15.0 - billion/79% (source: IMS Health) 22,000 (source: Rx&D) $1.21-billion/8.1% of sales (source: PMPRB) Generic $3.9 - billion/21% (source: IMS Health) 11,000 $615-million/15% of sales

Savings to Canada’s health-care system

A dollar spent on a generic drug supports more jobs, more investment in R&D, and more investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in Canada than a dollar spent on a brand-name drug.

No other industry has made, or continues to make, a greater contribution to affordable health care in Canada than the generic pharmaceutical industry. Last year alone, the use of generic pharmaceuticals saved Canada’s health-care system more than $2.6 billion.

TOP