The challenges facing Canadian trialists in an increasingly competitive global market: What can be done to remain competitive?

Globally, the pharmaceutical industry is condensing into fewer, larger international corporations. This has occurred with the vaccine industry in Canada, where two domestic producers have been absorbed by international companies. This changes the relationship between Canadian vaccine researchers and corporate head office research directors, who carefully assign prelicensure studies to potential market countries around the globe. To succeed in attracting prelicensure vaccine studies, Canadian researchers need to be outstanding in quality, reliability and efficiency. The present article highlights strategies to help researchers remain internationally competitive for industry-sponsored pharmaceutical studies.