medical writing canada
DESCRIPTION
Overview of Medical Writing in Canada presented at the 2008 AMWA National Conference in Louisville, KYTRANSCRIPT
Medical Writing in Canada
Presented at AMWA National ConferenceOctober 25, 2008, Louisvile, KY
Amanda Strongamanda@medicalcommunications.ca514.239.2736www.medicalcommunications.ca
Pharma in Canada
Small market compared to USA:Sales represent only 2% of the world market8th largest world market in salesemployed about 40 000 people in 2005 plus
another 35 000 indirectly Over 80% of industry located in Quebec
and Ontario
Source: Industry Canada. Canadian pharmaceutical Industry Profile. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/lsg-pdsv.nsf/en/h_hn00021e.html
Pharma in Canada
Source: Industry Canada. Canadian pharmaceutical Industry Profile. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/lsg-pdsv.nsf/en/h_hn00021e.html
Pharma in Canada
Rank Leading CompaniesR&D
LocationTotal Sales
($Millions)Market
Share (%)
1 Pfizer Montreal 2,288 13.4
2 AstraZeneca Montreal 1,121 6.6
3 Johnson & Johnson Toronto 1,106 6.5
4 GlaxoSmithKline Toronto 996 5.8
5 Apotex Toronto 950 5.6
6 Wyeth Montreal 675 4.0
7 Novartis Toronto 647 3.8
8 Sanofi-Aventis Quebec 625 3.7
9 Merck Frosst Montreal 602 3.5
10 Bristol-Myers Squibb Montreal 552 3.2
Source: 2005 drugstore and hospital purchases audit performed by IMS Health
Top 10 leading pharmaceutical companies in Canada
Pharma in Canada
RankLeading
ProductsTherapeutic Subclass
Total Sales($ Millions)
2005 Growth(%)
1 Lipitor Cholesterol Reducer 625.7 32.5
2 Losec Proton Pump Inhibitor 424.3 1.4
3 Zocor Cholesterol Reducer 291.4 42.3
4 Norvasc Calcium Channel Blocker 250.2 17.1
5 Altace ACE Inhibitor 234.9 40.6
6 Paxil Antidepressant 227.5 8.3
7 Zyprexa Tranquilizer 198.6 17.5
8 Celebrex Systemic Anti-Arthritic 186.1 0.2
9 Eprex Hematopoietic Agent 178.7 17.3
10 Pantoloc Proton Pump Inhibitor 161.1 37.5
Top 10 leading therapeutic classes (2005)
Source: 2005 drugstore and hospital purchases audit performed by IMS Health
Canadian Medical Writers
Highest Education (%)
BSc/BA 21.9
MSc/MA 20.3
MD/PhD 17.2
Other 3.1
Sex (%)
Male 20.3
Female 76.6
61% medical writers who responded to the survey reside in Ontario
Canadian Medical Writers
Employed Freelance
Academia 4.6 ± 18.9 5.2 ± 11.7
Industry 43.3 ± 50.4 24.5 ± 33.0
Professional Association 4.3 ± 20.9 1.3 ± 4.9
Patient/Disease Association 0 ± 0 1.7 ± 9.3
Journal or Publisher 12.4 ± 32.8 14.6 ± 26.4
Communication or Marketing 13.0 ± 34.4 22.9 ± 32.0
Healthcare Organization 4.3 ± 20.9 3.4 ± 7.9
Contract Research Organization 8.7 ± 28.8 6.2 ± 22.3
Research/Education Organization 4.3 ± 20.9 3.0 ± 9.7
Governmental Organization 0.2 ± 1.0 5.2 ± 11.5
Non-governmental Organization 4.3 ± 20.9 1.4 ± 4.6
Other 0.4 ± 2.1 10.2 ± 25.8
Sectors of Employment of Medical Writers in Canada
Canadian Medical Writers
Salary Freelance
Income
Mean (± SD) $79,524 ± $25,508 $62,482 ± $36,044
Median $75,000 $67,000
Min, Max $40,000, $135,000 $1,000, $150,000
95% CI $67,913 – $91,135 $48,223 – $76,740
Hours worked
Mean (± SD) 38.7 ± 3.7 30.0 ± 9.9(22.5 ± 8.1 billable)
Median 39.0 30.0
Min, Max 30, 50 2, 45
95% CI 37.1 – 40.2 26.2 – 33.8
Yearly Income and Average Hours Worked per Week
Source: 2008 AMWA Canada Salary Survey
Training in Canada
Laurentian University, SudburyGraduate diploma in science communicationFull-time, 1-yearTuition $6000; most students eligible for
entrance scholarships
Training in Canada
Concordia University, Montreal2 introductory stand-alone courses in medical
writing (~$300) Manuscript preparation Pharmaceutical marketing
Has been some discussions around creating a scientific or medical communications cont-ed certificate program available for completion online
Training in Canada
University of Toronto2 MSc programs in Biomedical
Communications, however they focus on medical artwork
Interactive media tools Illustration and animation
Tuition about $7500
Training in Canada
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)Science Writer Scholarships / Health
Research Communications Award $21-26 000 for 2 students enrolled in a post-
graduate journalism or communications programAlso fund health communications awards /
programs Ie, Doctoral Research Award: CHE
Writing
Regulatory Environment
Health Canada. Food and Drugs Actwho can sell a drug and how; what standards need to be met for a drug to
be sold in Canada; how drugs must be labelled and packaged
Codes of Conduct
Rx&D Research Based Pharmaceutical Companies
PAAB Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board
ASC Advertising Standards Canada
CAMP Canadian Association of Magazine Publishers
MAINPRO College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
PAAB & Health Canada
Health Canada is an ex-officio observer and advisor “without relinquishing authority under the Food and Drugs Act”
PAAB Commissioner works with Manager, Advertising and Risk Communications Section, Marketed Health Products Directorate at health Canada
Bi-annual meetings
(Source AMWA PAAB Workshop 2006)
PAAB Exemptions
PAAB Review exemptions (6.6) personal solicited correspondence government agency requirements price lists (no claims) institutional messages with no product “patient information” direct to patients independent educational materials (no emphasis on
sponsor’s drugs, see Health Canada guideline)
Data on File
PAAB 3.1.2Reviewed as part of NDS AND evidence of
acceptance indicated by inclusion in the PMCitation in bibliography of PM does not
indicate proof of acceptance
Published Articles
Yes-Publication in a peer-reviewed journal (PAAB 3.1.1)
No-Papers published in journal supplements unless the advertiser can demonstrate that the supplement has also been subject to a rigorous peer-review process similar to the attached journal (PAAB 3.1.2)
Published Clinical Trial
Formulation / dose range must be as per PM and the same as used in Canada
Open label trials are generally not acceptable Post hoc analyses and pooled data are generally
not acceptable Statistical analysis must be presented as part of
any data presentation
Other Articles
Review articles: Usually not acceptable
Meta-analyses: Depends on design
Guidelines and consensus statements Usually acceptable Claims must be consistent with PM
Posters and abstracts Not acceptable
DTC
Not allowed in Canada Consumer ads can identify drug or
indication, but not both
Help Seeking Ads
Okay when:No drug is identifiedNo implication that there is one sole treatment
availableNo drug manufacturer’s name is included
Third Party
Content must be 100% independent of Pharma
Pharma involvement limited to funding development and distribution
Reps can not distribute (becomes advertising)
CHE in Canada
Unaccredited must follow PAAB and Rx&D codes of conduct
Accredited programs bypass the Rx&D and PAAB codes
The two most common accreditation bodies in Canada are the two physician colleges: the CFPC and the RCPSC
Accreditation is separate for each province
CHE in Canada
Usually aim for national faculty Programs for Quebec are usually in
French – but often initially written in English
‘Firewall’ requirements between marketing and CHE
Service-orientated Items
Service Orientated Items (Rx&D)Acceptable service-oriented items are defined as items whose primary goal is to enhance the health care professional’s or patient’s understanding of a condition or its treatment. Such items may bear the corporate name and logo of the donor, but must not bear the name of any medicine.
Rx&D 8.2
Miscellaneous
Ad boardsSimilar to US but limitations on distribution
Conference ReportsMust follow PAAB, Rx&D codes unless
involvement strictly restricted to funding
Miscellaneous
Probably similar to USA although market and budgets are generally smaller Hospital Patient advocacy (usually national) Publishers: textbooks, journals… Corporate communications Posters, abstracts, articles PR Conference coverage, journalism
Key differences
Intensive pre-clearance process for marketing / CHE Strict regulations restricting communication to approved labeling Strict regulations on data presentation and acceptable references
No DTC Fallout: website barriers
Less use of technology and new media E-detailing or use of tablet PCs rare Less use of websites
Restrictions on satellite symposia in Canadian conferences as well as distribution of post-conference materials
Smaller budgets overall especially evident in CHE and less use of ad boards
Unique Opportunities
Canadianising global or US materials especially relevant in advertising, sales rep
training, interactive materials Backgrounders based on Canadian
market Although writing is done in English, writers
who can communicate in French are in demand
Finding Canadian Info
For guidelines: CMA Infobase http://mdm.ca/cpgsnew/cpgs/index.asp
Canada Health Portal http://chp-pcs.gc.ca/index.jsp
Health and Wellness Resource Centre at La Bibliothèque Nationale (members) http://bibnum2.bnquebec.ca A searchable database for magazine articles on
health and wellness Statistics Canada
Finding Work
P.R.N Directory (www.prnonline.ca) Directory of pharma companies and suppliers
Canadian Health network (www.publichealth.gc.ca) Provides a comprehensive list of health orgs in Canada:
CharityVillage.ca occasionally has job postings for hospitals, foundations,
academia and advocacy organizations Health Canada (jobs.gc.ca) Workpolis.com / Monster.ca AMWA / CSWA / STC-Canada List your services on AMWA-Canada or writers.ca ‘Headhunters’