First Research Canadian Industry Profile

Canada has about 330 pharmaceutical manufacturing employer establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $11 billion. The industry is comprised of Canadian-owned firms, including Apotex, Concordia International, and Valeant Pharmaceuticals, as well as branches of large multinational companies, including AstraZeneca, Merck, and Pfizer. More than 80% of Canadian pharmaceutical manufacturing establishments have fewer than 100 employees; only about 3% of establishments employ 500 or more.

Demand for pharmaceuticals is driven primarily by drug prescription and illness rates, development of new drugs, and the aging population. Currency exchange ... plus: