Merci. Madame la présidente, on behalf of Canada's biotechnology industry, I thank you and the Standing Committee on Health for conducting this important study of the process and effectiveness of the common drug review.
Today we would like to present to the standing committee the challenges that Canada's biotechnology community has faced as a result of the CDR process in bringing innovative new therapies to Canadian patients. Our recommendations, designed to bring Canada up to international standards of patient access, include having the CDR recognize the value of innovation, developing a review mechanism that can evaluate breakthrough and first-in-class products, and ensuring this process becomes fully accountable to the Canadian public by holding open meetings of its review committee.
Beginning our remarks this afternoon is Sean Thompson, director of corporate development for YM Biosciences in Mississauga.