Pharmaceutical Training

Gilead Releases Breakthrough Treatment for Hepatitis C

According to the Canadian Liver Foundation, there are approximately 170 million people worldwide who suffer from hepatitis C – and 300,000 of them live in Canada.  Known as the “silent killer,” the disease often infects its victims and spreads without their knowledge. Contracted through blood-to-blood contact, hepatitis C attacks the liver and if the body is not strong enough to recover on its own, the organ can become severely damaged before treatment is sought.  In addition to fatigue, loss of appetite and jaundice, advanced cases of Hep C can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and even cancer later in life… READ MORE »

Small Start-ups Outpace Big Pharma in Cancer Drug Discovery

The Calistoga story Seattle-based Calistoga Pharmaceuticals began as a passion project. The small biotech start-up was the brain child of Roger Ulrich, a Big Pharma veteran with a 20 year track record in the industry. When Ulrich lost his job, he partnered with two colleagues to found Calistoga, despite warnings of risk and potential loss. Focused on clinical research for cancer treatment, Calistoga soon began testing a new drug for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The trial was so incredibly successful, that it was halted midway so participants in the control group could choose to switch over and begin receiving the treatment… READ MORE »

Outsourcing Pharmaceutical R&D: Risks and Rewards

Outsourcing is a popular and profitable strategy that allows large companies to contract out what they consider to be non-critical processes and services – something most of us associate with routine customer service and IT support. Pharma companies have been key players in this trend for years, outsourcing almost everything in IT, including mainframes, networks and call centres. Over the past decade, progressive organizations have even begun contracting out human resources, finance and accounting, and facilities management. Since the late 1990s, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer have taken the lead in outsourcing an increasing number of operations.  It.. READ MORE »

Mapping out the Future: Funding Boost for Canadian Genomics Initiatives

Since the first successful sequencing of the human genome in 2003, technology has evolved to make DNA mapping faster and more cost-effective than ever. In the health care sector, genomics has paved the way for customized therapies for patients suffering from a range of illnesses including cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, neurological conditions, and cardiovascular disease. A more complete understanding of a patient’s genetic map means more effectively targeted drugs and a more efficient health care system. Students currently enrolled in pharmaceutical courses will emerge into a marketplace where customizable drug therapies are a booming business. The power to examine the genomes.. READ MORE »

Pharmaceutical Studies: A Frontrunner in Marketability

It was once believed that a university degree was all Canadians needed to secure relatively stable and desirable employment. But these days, students are graduating at the top of their class only to find themselves at the end of an unemployment line. A rocky economy and the changing landscape of post-secondary education have made choosing a program of study more confusing than ever.  In June of 2013, CBC News reported that unemployment rates for recent grads were at 14.5% and rising. Conditions are no better across the border, where the Wall Street Journal reported that last year 284,000 American college.. READ MORE »

Therapeutics Initiative Funding Attempts Gets International Attention

Last year in October, the province of BC defunded the Therapeutics Initiative program, an independent institution to monitor the effects of prescription pharmaceutical drugs. TI is also attached to the University of British Columbia’s Department of Family Practice, and had been working in this capacity since 1994. Defunding from the province did not kill the program. Instead, UBC picked up the shortfall, but TI garnered itself international attention as they campaigned for recognition, nationally and internationally, earning a mention in the prestigious British Medical Journal, as well as an open letter from doctors and research scientists from around the world,.. READ MORE »

Genetics-Based Pharmaceutical Research Breakthroughs

This week, we’re taking a look at some of the promising discoveries that have appeared over the last few months. They all share something in common: they all have roots in our ongoing efforts to understand the human genetic code and the biological processes surrounding it, part of a trend that’s opening up a whole range of new cures and treatments. Pharmaceutical discoveries and possible new treatments Messenger RNA (mRNA) normally serves an important role in copying DNA, as part of its transmission. Clinical research-oriented company, CureVac has partnered with pharmaceutical giant Janssen to build on existing, promising research. The.. READ MORE »

Recent Clinical Research Breakthroughs in Canada

Since the Nobel Prize was awarded to Banting and Macleod in 1923 for their discovery of Insulin, Canada has held a place as one of the top countries for pharmaceutical research in the world. Canadian scientists are still being credited with breakthrough discoveries every year, and there is an explicit need for young talent to enter the industry. It is recognized that historically, young researchers are statistically more likely to conduct breakthrough research. Universities and corporate labs know this, and many commit themselves to finding fresh talent. CIHR, the Canadian Institute of Health Research specifically targets young scientists, offering numerous.. READ MORE »

Trends in High Performance Liquid Chromatography

As a student of pharmaceutical or life sciences (or anyone interested in how science is bettering our world), you will inevitably learn about the latest High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) techniques and how they fit into different industries. At this point, HPLC is an established technique dating back to the early twentieth century, but over the decades, the process has been refined and simplified. It has evolved from a multi-unit process to a standardized procedure with a single piece of laboratory equipment. HPLC works differently that traditional liquid chromatography because it uses a man-made high-pressure process instead of gravity to.. READ MORE »

Do the Research to Get the Pharmaceutical Job

We’ve talked a lot about what’s going on in the pharmaceutical industry, in Canada and in the world, but now we’re going to take it back to you, and look at some of the tips that will help you launch and grow your pharmaceutical career. Defining Your Goal– While it’s possible to launch a career with no clear direction plan; you’ll spend your time and effort more efficiently if you have an idea where to go. At AAPS, we pride ourselves on our industry experience, so our faculty can help you get started. But, asides from that, you need to.. READ MORE »

Archives