Our unique impact in Canada

For more than 50 years, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. has had a unique impact supporting Canadian health, research and innovation. Looking at five distinct focus areas, we share the Canadian outlook and the ways we’ve made a difference. Each area is substantiated through case studies* highlighting Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to Canada’s priorities and the resulting impact.

Map of Canada with network of lines and glowing dots

Learn more about animal health

Keeping Canada’s livestock and companion animals healthy

Patient in a hospital room speaking with doctor

Learn more about human health

Bringing breakthrough innovations to Canadians

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Learn more about equity and generational impact

Fostering a more equitable and accessible healthcare system across generations

Scientist sitting in front of a computer in a lab

Learn more about innovation ecosystem investments

Building critical capacity across Canada’s life sciences ecosystem

Learn more about health system sustainability

Helping to create Canada’s health system of the future

A Canadian story

As a family-owned business for more than 135 years, Boehringer Ingelheim exists to make generational impact to the health of humans and animals. We take a long-term view and innovate to develop breakthrough therapies and life-enhancing improvements for patients, and to provide advanced, preventive animal healthcare. We are always asking what more can we do. Our impact extends beyond medicines into work that helps address health disparities in underserved populations and contributes to health system transformation.

We have a social and environmental responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable world and healthier future. Our strategic approach to sustainability helps address intersecting sustainable development challenges. This framework forms the foundation of Boehringer Ingelheim Canada’s work in improving animal, human and planet health. This holistic approach is built with a focus on three main pillars:

Patient in wheelchair being cheered on by healthcare staff

Our holistic approach

More health

Aiming to develop better healthcare solutions that positively impact the health of people and animals in underserved communities to contribute to a better world for future generations.

More potential

Working to provide the best conditions for employees, communities and partners to enable them to reach their full potential as catalysts for change.

More green

Supporting environmental initiatives within business operations that combat climate change or focus on sustainability and encouraging green behaviour of employees.

“Boehringer Ingelheim has been family-run for six generations with a strong ethic to serve humankind, leading to long-term and generational thinking.”

Mehmood Alibhai

Head,
Government Affairs

Boehringer Ingelheim’s principles

Building on the company’s strong foundation and family-owned legacy, Boehringer Ingelheim Canada is committed to a strong set of principles that promote innovation, collaboration and sustainability. For Boehringer Ingelheim, drug development represents only part of our purpose.

Two scientists looking at a computer in a laboratory

Innovation

Our commitment to innovation extends beyond creating medicines and therapies and creates impact for generations to come. We are also committed to helping create a health system that embraces innovation and fosters an environment where every Canadian can access the care and treatment they require and deserve.

Collaboration

We prioritize patients and communities, placing them at the centre of everything we do. We bring the patient’s voice to the forefront to identify health challenges, develop tangible solutions, and form meaningful partnerships that support improvements in health systems and patient health outcomes.

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Sustainability

We are committed to working with underserved communities to address health inequities and create sustainable solutions that have a meaningful impact on health, social well-being, and the economy.

Man sitting on a log, wearing a backpack and petting a dog

One Health philosophy

Boehringer Ingelheim embraces the One Health philosophy, which
recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental
health. This integrated approach allows us to better understand and
address critical health challenges while reinforcing our commitment to
human and animal health.

“We have a generational view because we're family owned—it's part of our DNA to innovate and put patients first.”

Annie
Beauchemin

Head,
Market Access

Impact timeline

Since entering the Canadian market in 1972, Boehringer Ingelheim has had a significant
impact on research and innovation in Canadian animal and human healthcare.

1972:

Founded in Montréal, QC.

1978:

Moved its headquarters to Burlington, ON.

1997:

Expansion of Boehringer Ingelheim Canada’s Research and Development Centre.

1982:

Established the Animal Health Division focused on bovine and equine products.

2008:

Completed a $36M investment to facilitate 40 high-calibre scientists to join the team of 150 researchers.

2009:

Acquisition of Wyeth’s animal health assets, including cattle and small animal vaccines.

2017:

Exchange of Sanofi’s animal health business (Merial) and Boehringer Ingelheim’s consumer healthcare business.

2020:

PATHWAYS Indigenous Health Collaborations launched to address disparities in Indigenous health and wellness.

A partner in health

Boehringer Ingelheim Canada is more than just a biopharmaceutical company—it is a partner in health, committed to creating meaningful and sustainable change that generates significant health, social and economic impact for Canadians.

Within Canada, Boehringer Ingelheim is…

Providing innovative medicines that fundamentally improve health outcomes for Canadians with a focus on unmet needs or traditionally underserved disease areas (chronic diseases), as well as pressing health challenges across our population.

Driving animal health and well-being by taking a holistic view to provide new medicines (e.g. vaccines/therapeutics) and tools that help to prevent disease and treat conditions, as well as working with producers and other agricultural stakeholders to help educate and build awareness around leading practices for livestock and animal health.

Scientist looking into a microscope in a laboratory

Acting as a catalyst for health research and innovation by making financial and in-kind investments into Canadian start-ups and academic institutions to help grow Canada’s innovation ecosystem and advance ideas to impact.

Championing for health equity and underserved populations by spearheading collaborations with Indigenous communities across Canada. These Indigenous-led and Indigenous-informed initiatives aim to identify healthcare and health system challenges of great priority to these underserved communities and develop implementable and sustainable solutions to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities.

Driving health system transformation by partnering with government decision-makers and stakeholders to improve Canadian access to treatment and care. An example is the Alberta Boehringer Ingelheim Collaboration.

“Our medicines are a small percentage of the total equation of healthcare or patient outcomes.”

Clement Chan

Director,
Healthcare Affairs
Solutions

Young boy smiling and fishing, while sitting on a dock with an older adult

Boehringer Ingelheim Canada…the next 50 years

As we embark on the next 50 years, we look back over the significant, wide-ranging and distinctive impact that we have had on Canada’s health and life sciences ecosystem.

Health impact

We’ve brought innovative medicines to Canadians and addressed unmet clinical needs, as well as developed animal health products and tools to support the health and resiliency of Canada’s livestock and companion animals.

Social impact

We’ve helped elevate the voices of Indigenous communities and other underserved populations across Canada to better address health inequities, access care and help improve quality of life.

Laptop displaying graph with an upward trending line

Economic impact

We’ve made strategic investments in research institutions and research collaborations to grow Canada’s health and life sciences sector and advance made-in-Canada health technologies.

Environmental impact

We've made investments in advancing sustainability through the use of hybrid vehicles, participating in the Clean Farm initiative and supporting sustainable research in planetary health.

“What gets me up every day is thinking about the broader impact of the work that our company and our teams are doing in the healthcare sector and beyond it.”

Sara McClelland

Head of
Communications

Cross-species drug development for cardiovascular health

As we prepare for our next 50 years, we are well-positioned to continue tackling critical human and animal health priorities toward a more balanced, sustainable and resilient ecosystem across Canada. We’ve identified both short and long-term goals for the future.

Short term

Launch new products to address areas of unmet medical need in human and animal health.
Innovative, validated tools to support remote monitoring and early disease diagnosis in pigs.
Make improvements in the mental health and well-being of Canadians through new therapeutics and patient support programs.

Women sitting on a grassy hill, holding a dog and looking at the sun

Long term

Significant contributions to Canada’s advancement of the One Health principle through a focus on preventing livestock illness and precision livestock farming.
Support the development of new digital tools and wearable technologies to support patient monitoring and disease management.
Expansion of Boehringer Ingelheim Canada’s PATHWAYS program—engaging with other communities to identify health challenges and co-develop solutions.
Advancement of health data policies and the use of data to inform health research and clinical care in collaboration with government and other multi-sector stakeholders.

Doctor showing results to a smiling mother who is holding their toddler

“We are proud and privileged to be able to impact the world around us, motivated by our purpose to transform lives for generations by improving human and animal health.”

Mark Lewis

President and CEO
of Boehringer
Ingelheim Canada