Bridging Canada’s Biotherapeutic Gap: A Call for Strategic Investment in Translational Research

It will come as no surprise that cancer is a pressing health crisis: nearly half of Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, and almost 25% will die from it. But many Canadians may not know that translational research—which involves taking discoveries made in the laboratory and developing them into treatments and interventions used in clinical trials—is key to helping them access the best that research has to offer against this disease while boosting Canada’s life sciences competitiveness and strengthening the economy.

In the competitive arena of global biotherapeutics, Canada has proven itself to be a remarkable source of innovative cancer research. However, chasms exist between our laboratory discoveries and their translation into therapies that can benefit patients, boost the economy and support Canadian companies. Often referred to as the “valley of death,” this metaphorical expanse where promising research often withers represents not only a scientific challenge but a structural one, fraught with funding difficulties, expertise shortages, and misaligned incentive structures.

Overcoming Barriers to Translational Research

The journey from identification of a promising drug to market approval by health regulators is perilous, and the risks are highest within the translational gap: the valley of death. This stage requires extensive collaboration across scientific, regulatory, and clinical disciplines and necessitates specialized facilities and expertise. Venture capitalists and private sector investors prefer to back later-stage clinical research, while government funding, as seen with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), predominantly supports basic and clinical research, leaving translational research grossly underfunded.

Other countries have recognized and addressed these structural deficiencies. The United States National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), the UK’s Medical Research Council (MRC), and the European Union’s Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) are notable examples of dedicated initiatives aimed at overcoming these barriers. These programs not only accelerate the translation of research into clinical interventions but also ensure that discoveries remain within their borders, enhancing both public health responses and economic benefits.

In contrast, Canada remains less competitive. Despite commendable achievements in basic cancer research and a strong track record in clinical trials, our ability to advance homegrown innovations into clinical and commercial realms lags behind. This shortfall is due in large part to a fragmented investment strategy that fails to integrate and coordinate the infrastructure, expertise, and funding necessary to ensure a successful translational research ecosystem.

The recent Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA) report underscores this issue. Despite a significant investment of $7.4 billion in cancer research from 2005 to 2019, Canada’s spending relative to GDP remains below that of comparative countries like the UK and the US. Moreover, while Canadian research is highly regarded globally—evidenced by our leading citation rates—the translation of these discoveries into market-ready therapies is dismal. As but one example, only 4% of cancer immunotherapy trials in Canada are based on domestic innovation, with the majority of clinical trials being driven by large pharmaceutical companies and US biotech firms.

Translational Research: The Key to Advancing Canadian Biotherapeutic Leadership

This situation represents a missed opportunity. Without a coherent strategy that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and provides robust funding for all stages of translational research, Canada risks remaining a “branch plant” for international pharmaceutical companies rather than a leader in biotherapeutics innovation. We need to build on the models provided by ARPA-H, NCATS, MRC, and IMI, creating dedicated funding streams and specialized centers that support the continuum from basic research to clinical application.

Amid this ongoing battle, BioCanRx, Canada’s Immunotherapy Network, has emerged as a leader in translating cutting-edge cancer immunotherapies from research to clinical trials, exemplifying how increased collaboration among stakeholders like scientists, clinicians, academic institutions, NGOs, and industry partners can drive both health and economic benefits. Our work has already led to life-saving treatments like the made-in-Canada CAR T-cell therapy, which has transformed the lives of patients with recurrent and refractory blood cancers across the nation. Our highly coordinated and integrative approach has also helped us move the needle on Canada’s overall home-grown clinical trial performance; since our inception in 2015, 41 percent of Canadian cancer immunotherapy trials based on Canadian research are directly attributable to BioCanRx’s translational research program.

Our success over this relatively short period proves the promise of this model, showing why Canada must adopt a whole-of-ecosystem approach, funding the entire health research continuum, including translational research and the coordination of activities. This investment is crucial not only for developing new cancer treatments or responding to future health crises but also for capitalizing on our scientific discoveries and our health research investments. 

The recent $38 million funding from the Government of Canada to BioCanRx through the Strategic Science Fund is a step in the right direction and aligns with the federal government’s Biomanufacturing and Life Science Strategy (BLSS). However, more substantial and sustained investments are needed to support the translation of research into widespread clinical practice and to maintain Canada’s competitive edge in the global bioscience economy.

An Investment Plan for Biotherapeutic Innovation

To bridge the translational gap, Canada must implement a strategic investment plan that includes:

1. Increased funding for translational research: Establish dedicated funding streams for pre-clinical to clinical translation, ensuring that promising discoveries are not abandoned due to lack of financial support.

2. Interdisciplinary collaboration: Encourage collaboration across diverse scientific and clinical disciplines, supported by structures that incentivize teamwork and shared success.

3. Access to specialized facilities: Invest in and provide access to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) biomanufacturing and advanced bioanalytical facilities, which are essential for the development and testing of new therapies.

4. Training and Development: Enhance training programs to develop highly qualified personnel (HQP) equipped to navigate the complexities of translational research.

Canada has the potential to lead the development of biotherapeutics, but it will require a concerted effort and strategic investment to turn this potential into reality. By addressing these critical areas, Canada can ensure that its investment in cancer and health research translates into tangible health and economic benefits. The time to act is now, lest we continue to lose our most promising innovations to more strategically prepared nations.