Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

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Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association

Representing manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceutical products, manufacturers and distributors of active pharmaceutical chemicals.

The CGPA represents the Canadian-based generic pharmaceutical industry: a dynamic group of companies which specialize in the production of high quality, affordable generic drugs, fine chemicals and new chemical entities.

04/24/2026

If a safe, effective generic pharmaceutical becomes available for a fraction of the price of the brand name version, why doesn’t uptake happen automatically?
Because the current system makes it harder than you’d think.

When market exclusivity ends and a complex generic becomes available, you might expect drug plans to shift quickly to reimburse it. But in most cases, brand-name products remain listed as benefits alongside generics.

After years of established prescribing patterns, the brand often continues to be dispensed, even when a generic alternative is available.
This ultimately weakens the financial incentive for manufacturers to launch future generics in Canada, reducing competition and threatening long-term savings.

Fortunately, there’s a practical way to increase uptake of complex generics, and we’ve already seen it work. Biosimilar switching policies have helped deliver meaningful savings for public drug plans while maintaining patient access, and a similar approach could apply here.

Delisting brand-name versions as benefits upon prescription renewal would allow complex generics to compete more effectively.

04/15/2026

Thank you to Adam Rambert of Apotex and Brigitte Richard of Sandoz for serving as chair and vice-chair, respectively, of CGPA's Legal Affairs Committee.

Supporting the CGPA on legal aspects of all its files, the Legal Affairs Committee reviews, monitors and engages in emerging legal issues of concern to the generic and biosimilar medicines industries, including areas of a compliance nature, such as the CGPA Code of Marketing Conduct and competition and privacy law obligations.

Thank you to Adam, Brigitte and the committee for your excellent work!

04/08/2026

The CGPA would like to thank Kevin Zive of Apotex Inc. and Glenn Ikeda of NATCO Pharma Canada for serving as chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the IP Committee.

Advising CGPA on issues related to Canada’s intellectual property regime for pharmaceuticals and biologics, the IP Committee's role is to maintain an internationally competitive intellectual property framework for the development, approval and sale of generic and biosimilar medicines.

Tasked with effectively balancing IP holder rights with the timely entry of new generic and biosimilar medicines for Canadian taxpayers, the Committee identifies trends, concerns and proposals regarding the operation and administration of Canada’s pharmaceutical IP regime.

It also supports CGPA’s interventions in any IP court cases that are of broad concern to the generic and biosimilar medicines industries.

Thank you again to Kevin, Glenn and the IP Committee for your great work and continued support.

04/02/2026

How affordable are generic medicines? In a lot of cases, they cost less than your daily double-double.

Take common cholesterol drugs like atorvastatin or rosuvastatin, for example.

A 30-day supply of the generic versions costs about $5 to $7 per month. Do the math, and that’s (significantly) less than the cost of ordering a medium coffee every day at your favourite coffee shop chain.

With prices like that, it’s no wonder that generic medicines save Canada’s healthcare system billions of dollars annually.

But generic medicines can only help Canadians if the companies that make them can afford to keep making them.

That’s why we need smart policy to protect both affordability, and long-term supply.

03/27/2026

CGPA would like to extend a sincere thanks to Sonia Gallo of Sandoz Canada and Joanna Constantopolous of Pharmascience for serving as Chair and Vice Chair of our Scientific Affairs Committee.

CGPA's Scientific Affairs Committee leads our work with Health Canada to address market access challenges for generic medicines to help ensure Canadians can have access to generic medicines that are affordable, safe and of high quality.

Thank you, Sonia and Joanna, for your dedication and leadership!

03/13/2026

CGPA President Jim Keon and Vice President of Federal and International Affairs Jody Cox recently appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health as part of its study on Canada’s pharmaceutical sovereignty.

Emphasizing a point Jim made recently in an op-ed for National Newswatch, they informed the committee that the best way for Ottawa to secure medicine supply is to remove barriers to the drugs that fill 80 percent of Canadian prescriptions.

That begins with sustainable pricing levels, restoring predictability to the regulatory environment, ensuring timely review of generic drug submissions, and putting policies in place that encourage the use of cost-saving medicines once they are approved.

03/11/2026

To coincide with his appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, CGPA & Biosimilars Canada President Jim Keon has penned a new op-ed for National Newswatch that makes CGPA's position clear:

If Ottawa wants a secure supply of medicines, it must remove barriers to the drugs that fill 80 percent of prescriptions.

"Generics and biosimilars are too often treated simply as a line item to minimize in health budgets," Jim writes, before noting that Canada’s generic and biosimilar sector is a strategic asset. "When supply chains fracture, countries with domestic manufacturing capacity and reliable partnerships are better positioned to protect their populations."

That's why Canada’s pharmaceutical sovereignty starts with generics and biosimilars.

Read the full op-ed on National Newswatch.

03/10/2026

Today, CGPA President Jim Keon and our VP of Federal and International Affairs Jody Cox will appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health as part of its study on Canada’s pharmaceutical sovereignty.

The Committee is examining how Canada can strengthen its domestic pharmaceutical sector and ensure Canadians have reliable access to essential medicines and medical supplies.

Jim and Jody will join a panel of witnesses from across the healthcare ecosystem to share the perspective of Canada’s generic and biosimilar medicines industries and contribute to the discussion on building a strong, resilient pharmaceutical system.

Generic and biosimilar medicines fill 80% of prescriptions dispensed in Canada and generate billions of dollars in savings every year for public and private drug plans. A policy framework that champions generics and biosimilars will enable Canada to expand domestic investment, strengthen the resilience of its medicine supply, and ensure Canadians continue to have access to affordable treatments.

We look forward to contributing to this important conversation about the future of Canada’s pharmaceutical sovereignty.

Both the live and the recorded video will be available through the following link: https://www.ourcommons.ca/documentviewer/en/45-1/HESA/meeting-24/notice

03/09/2026

CGPA welcomes Laboratoire Riva as our newest member.

02/26/2026

CGPA is pleased to announce that Michel Robidoux, President & General Manager of Sandoz Canada, has been re‑elected as Chair.

After being elected to his position last year, Michel has spent the past 12 months working to ensure Canada is a viable market for generic pharmaceutical manufacturers and the cost-saving medicines that are vital to sustaining our health-care system.

CGPA congratulates him on his re-election and looks forward to his continued leadership at this critical time for Canada’s generic medicines sector.

02/23/2026

Thank you to Matt Southcott of Apotex and Gayle Peddle of Sun Pharma Canada, Chair and Vice Chair of CGPA's Market Growth Committee.

Playing a key role in CGPA’s mission to increase the use of generic prescription medicines in Canada's private sector, the Market Growth Committee works to ensure that Canadians understand that generic pharmaceutical products are essential to a sustainable, national healthcare system.

Thank you to Matt, Gayle and all Committee members for your excellent work in spreading the word about the tremendous value that generic pharmaceutical products bring to the lives of Canadians.

02/20/2026

Thank you to Guillaume Lefevre of Sandoz Canada and Gayle Peddle of Sun Pharma Canada, Chair and Vice Chair of CGPA's Government Relations Committee.

Assembled from member company staff, the Government Relations Committee manages some of CGPA's most important files, helping us communicate with key stakeholders from all levels of government.

We are grateful to have such a capable team to help us navigate these vital aspects of our work.

Address

4100 Yonge Street, Suite 501
Toronto, ON
M2P2B5

Telephone

+14162232333

Website

http://www.canadiangenerics.ca/

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