Mary Argent-Katwala, PhD

This report evaluates the implementation of electronic systems and pathology standards in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, and Manitoba. The evaluation includes what worked well, what could have been done differently, and what were the key enablers and barriers.

Review the initiative’s 2017 findings and recommendations for helping implement synoptic surgery reporting standards in key jurisdictions

This infographic shows the system-wide benefits of implementing synoptic-surgery reporting across Canada.

This 2016 report gives updated, endorsed Canadian standards about the data elements and indicators used for surgical-synoptic reporting of eight cancer types.

The Canadian initiative is a collaborative health-services approach to identify relevant low-value, unnecessary or harmful services that are frequently used within Canada. The Partnership worked with the three professional oncology societies (CSSO, CAMO and CARO) to develop a cancer-specific list of practices. The final list was released on October 29, 2014, along with the second wave of Choosing Wisely Canada lists.

The research impact report provides an overview of CCSRI’s research funding investments and highlights the impact of research funded. Specifically, you will find a breakdown of CCSRI’s investment portfolio, information about CCSRI’s peer review and evaluation processes, a summary of selected research outcomes and impacts, and stories about the impact that funded researchers are making across the country.

The bladder is the fourth most common tumor site among all tumors that can afflict both genders. However, because of its very high risk of recurrence and its frequent presentation as multiple tumors within the bladder, bladder cancer represents a healthcare burden disproportionate to its incidence. Few new agents have been approved for BC in the past 20 years, which is in marked contrast to many other tumor types, where monoclonal antibodies and kinase inhibitors have led to gains in survival… Show more

The bladder is the fourth most common tumor site among all tumors that can afflict both genders. However, because of its very high risk of recurrence and its frequent presentation as multiple tumors within the bladder, bladder cancer represents a healthcare burden disproportionate to its incidence. Few new agents have been approved for BC in the past 20 years, which is in marked contrast to many other tumor types, where monoclonal antibodies and kinase inhibitors have led to gains in survival. Thus, the competitive barriers to entry remain much lower in BC than in some other cancer markets. BC research has suffered from a lack of funding, but now several of the top pharmaceutical developers are investing in developing treatments for bladder cancer; five new agents are poised for approval for use in bladder cancer over the next ten years. Show less

diopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most common interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and is the most prevalent pulmonary fibrotic disease. IPF is associated with high morbidity and mortality; mean survival following diagnosis is two years. Until 2011, no drugs were licensed for IPF in either the United States or Europe; pirfenidone (InterMune’s Esbriet) launched in Germany in September 2011. In addition, no disease-modifying drug therapies are strongly recommended in the 2011… Show more

diopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most common interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and is the most prevalent pulmonary fibrotic disease. IPF is associated with high morbidity and mortality; mean survival following diagnosis is two years. Until 2011, no drugs were licensed for IPF in either the United States or Europe; pirfenidone (InterMune’s Esbriet) launched in Germany in September 2011. In addition, no disease-modifying drug therapies are strongly recommended in the 2011 guidelines on IPF management. Guidelines recommend IPF cases be considered for lung transplant, given the absence of any drug therapies to improve their condition. Several pharmaceutical developers are investing in developing treatments for IPF; five new agents are poised for approval for use in IPF over the 2010-2020 forecast period. Show less

In the past 25 years, more than 100 recombinant proteins and MAbs have reached the global market. Biologics have scored most of their successes in the United States, but they are a growing force in Europe and Japan, where they are well represented in companies’ product pipelines. Issues that will make or break the successful integration of biologics in European and Japanese biopharmaceutical market include clinical trial design, patient recruitment, pricing methodology, reimbursement, treatment… Show more

In the past 25 years, more than 100 recombinant proteins and MAbs have reached the global market. Biologics have scored most of their successes in the United States, but they are a growing force in Europe and Japan, where they are well represented in companies’ product pipelines. Issues that will make or break the successful integration of biologics in European and Japanese biopharmaceutical market include clinical trial design, patient recruitment, pricing methodology, reimbursement, treatment for orphan diseases and serious illnesses, and responding to a high unmet need. Show less

The rush to develop and market biogenerics has begun. While the United States dragged its feet drafting legislation to codify issues surrounding biogenerics, biogenerics companies have successfully brought products to several other markets around the world. Looking forward, developers of biogenerics must monitor not only the nuances of specific biologics markets but also the long-term commitment they will be required to make when developing biogenerics and the significant capital investment… Show more

The rush to develop and market biogenerics has begun. While the United States dragged its feet drafting legislation to codify issues surrounding biogenerics, biogenerics companies have successfully brought products to several other markets around the world. Looking forward, developers of biogenerics must monitor not only the nuances of specific biologics markets but also the long-term commitment they will be required to make when developing biogenerics and the significant capital investment that will be required to achieve success. On the other side of the coin, originator companies have much to lose from the uptake of biogenerics. Second-generation products designed to extend the half-lives of biologics and to protect brand franchises have never been more important in order to fend off the challenge of a new category of drugs that will have more impact on biologic markets over the next ten years than any other single factor. Above all else, however, innovative new products are needed to expand pharmaceutical markets, not just to replace market share lost to biogeneric erosion. Show less

Valued at more than $24 billion in 2005 for the seven major pharmaceutical markets under study, the hypertension market is one of the largest in the pharmaceutical sector. Despite an array of effective medication, good control of blood pressure remains elusive. Poor patient compliance combined with the requirement for treatment with a number of different agents creates a significant commercial opportunity.

The majority of pancreatic cancer (PC) patients present with advanced disease, for which systemic therapy is the only therapeutic option. Even with drug treatment, median survival is less than one year. The disease therefore poses huge unmet need for more-effective therapies that can improve survival.

Morbidity and mortality from peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are higher than from coronary heart disease (CHD) or cerebrovascular disease (CVD). The atherosclerosis that characterizes PAD is largely undiagnosed and untreated. PAD experts tell us that the most urgent need in this market is for aggressive secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events.

Breast cancer (CaB), the most common cancer in women worldwide, has direct treatment costs of nearly $7 billion annually in the United States alone, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute. The incorporation of trastuzumab (Genentech/Roche/Chugai’s Herceptin) for HER2-overexpressing patients and aromatase inhibitors for hormone-receptor-positive patients into the adjuvant population is driving the robust growth of the CaB market.

Half of men and two-thirds of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease (CHD) have no prior symptoms; their subclinical atherosclerosis is largely undiagnosed and untreated. The most urgent need in this market is prevention of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, which represents a considerable growth opportunity through 2014.

Advances in technology have facilitated the detailed molecular characterization of cancer and have revealed a plethora of potential new targets, which has fueled pharmaceutical R&D. More than 500 candidate drugs are reported to be in early (Phase I and II) clinical evaluation, and countless more are in the preclinical stages of development. We identify some of the most promising cancer targets and explore the market opportunity for new drugs in 2016 and 2021 in five cancer indications.

Targeted cancer therapies generated well over $5 billion in sales in the United States in 2005. Sales of these agents are burgeoning, and the pipeline for new targeted cancer therapies is bulging. By 2015, Genentech/Roche’s Avastin alone, one of ten currently targeted therapies launched since 1997, will account for more than $6 billion in sales in the United States.

The high-profile withdrawal of ximelagatran, AstraZeneca’s first-to-market oral direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI), has left the venous thromboembolism (VTE) market wide open to therapies that address its defining unmet need for a safe and consistently effective oral anticoagulant.

Major-market sales for the most common side effects of chemotherapy (anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting [CINV], and oral mucositis [OM]) exceeded $8 billion in 2004. The market is dominated by therapies that manage anemia and neutropenia effectively for most patients. Considerable opportunity remains for drugs that prevent or treat thrombocytopenia and oral mucositis.

These standards support the delivery of consistent, high-quality care for Canadians with breast cancer who need surgery.

These standards support the delivery of consistent, high-quality care for Canadians with rectal cancer who need surgery.

The Oncology Drug Data Minimum Data Set (MDS) is intended to provide consistent, essential information to a broad range of partners and stakeholders who have key roles in the collection and use of oncology drug data.

This document provides high-level guidance and discussion on the foundational resources and requirements that need to be in place to improve cancer surgical care and its outcomes.

The document provides high-level guidance and discussion on the foundational resources and requirements that need to be in place to improve cancer surgical care and its outcomes.

In 2016 a series of six public deliberation events were held across Canada on the topic of rising cancer drug costs and the sustainability of Canada’s public healthcare system. The events, titled Making Fair and Sustainable Decisions about Funding for Cancer Drugs in Canada, were conducted in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec (one in English and one in French) and Nova Scotia; there was also a final pan‐Canadian event. The objective of this series of events was to seek direction… Show more

In 2016 a series of six public deliberation events were held across Canada on the topic of rising cancer drug costs and the sustainability of Canada’s public healthcare system. The events, titled Making Fair and Sustainable Decisions about Funding for Cancer Drugs in Canada, were conducted in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec (one in English and one in French) and Nova Scotia; there was also a final pan‐Canadian event. The objective of this series of events was to seek direction from Canadians on what values should underpin policy decisions related to cancer drug funding when budgets are limited, and how these decisions may be made in a trustworthy manner. Show less

These recommendations from 2016 aim to enhance patient safety through better and more consistent quality assurance in pathology across Canada.

This report gives analysis and discussion about the distribution of and approaches to high-risk, resource-intensive surgeries for esophageal, pancreatic, liver, lung and ovarian cancers.

This document highlights important elements of radiation quality assurance that should be common to all Canadian treatment programs. These guidelines shouldn’t replace detailed specifications, standard operating procedures or centre-based policies, but rather support the development and maintenance of a national quality-assurance strategy for radiation treatment.