Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.0bn in 2026.
Trends and Insights
Pricing pressures for generic manufacturers intensify amid policy shifts
- Generic manufacturers in Canada face persistent pricing pressures because of operating in a mature, highly competitive market segment. In 2023, generic medicines accounted for 76.6% of prescriptions dispensed nationwide (according to IQVIA data)—a figure that continues to rise. Yet, they accounted for only a minority of total prescription drug spending. This starkly contrasts with brand-name and specialty products, which drive the majority of costs and largely set the tone for overall pharmaceutical expenditures.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2026-2031)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Generic producers will focus on high-demand therapeutic areas
- Canadian generic and biosimilar manufacturers are poised for broad expansion as a wave of patent expirations unlocks high-value opportunities. While GLP-1s for diabetes and obesity remain a central focus, the scope of growth extends well beyond this class. High-demand therapeutic areas such as oncology, cardiology and immunology are expected to drive the next phase, particularly as complex biologics (e.g., Keytruda in cancer immunotherapy) and specialty small molecules lose exclusivity by the late 2020s. Canadian producers can build on established branded demand by launching affordable alternatives and leveraging the policy-driven momentum behind generics and biosimilars.
Biggest companies in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Canada
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue ($m)
2026 | Profit ($m)
2026 | Profit Margin (%)
2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Novartis | 609.4 | 20.8 | 3.4 | |
Apotex | 556.4 | 80.9 | 14.5 | |
Pharmascience | 170.5 | 20.7 | 12.1 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Nervous system and cardiovascular system, Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents and Alimentary tract and metabolism. Nervous system and cardiovascular system is the largest segment of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Canada.
Trends and Insights
Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents benefit from expiring patents
- Antineoplastic agents are drugs designed to control or kill neoplasms, commonly known as tumors. This category of drugs includes most cancer therapies, including chemotherapy drugs. Immunomodulating agents are also used to treat cancers and other autoimmune conditions.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Generic pharmaceutical manufacturers produce medications that are bioequivalent to brand-name drugs that regulatory agencies have already approved. These drugs contain the same active ingredients, dosage form, strength and intended use as the original brand-name drugs.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada include Gaining regulatory approval for generic drugs, Developing and producing generic drugs and Marketing and distributing generic drugs.Companies
Companies covered in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada include Novartis, Apotex and Pharmascience.Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada include active pharmaceutical ingredient (api), antineoplastic agents, biologics, biosimilars, bioequivalence, dossier and evergreening.Industry Code
NAICS 325410 - Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Canada
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Generic drugs were responsible for over three-quarters of total dispensed prescriptions in Canada in 2023. While patients' and healthcare professionals’ acceptance of generic...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Generic manufacturers are responsible for supplying chain pharmacies with prescription drugs. Manufacturers see the highest sales of generic drugs from chain pharmacies.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2026
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2026
- Major market segmentation in 2026
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Toronto is the epicenter of Canada’s life sciences sector. The city’s concentration of talent, research institutions, infrastructure and government support attract establishe...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each province in 2026
- Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of employees in each province in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Generic pharmaceutical manufacturers are navigating an increasingly competitive market. When a branded drug’s patent expires, generic producers can flood the market, creating...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Apotex is Canada’s largest generic pharmaceutical producer, with a broad portfolio spanning many commonly prescribed medicines. This scale enables the company to serve multip...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2022 through 2026
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2026
- Overview of Novartis's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of Apotex's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of Pharmascience's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Novartis, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Apotex, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Pharmascience, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
A complex regulatory framework oversees nearly every aspect of generic drug production. Manufacturers must navigate challenges surrounding federal and provincial requirements...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Procuring inputs is the largest expense for generic pharmaceutical manufacturers. Raw materials are essential to producing generic drugs but sourcing APIs from a global suppl...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2019-2024)
- Coverage Ratios (2019-2024)
- Leverage Ratios (2019-2024)
- Operating Ratios (2019-2024)
- Assets (2019-2024)
- Liabilities (2019-2024)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
- Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Average Wage (2016-2031)
- Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
- Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2016-2031)
- IVA (2016-2031)
- Establishments (2016-2031)
- Enterprises (2016-2031)
- Employment (2016-2031)
- Exports (2016-2031)
- Imports (2016-2031)
- Wages (2016-2031)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada in 2026?
The market size of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada is $3.0bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada in 2026?
There are 216 businesses in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada?
The Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada?
The Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
Has the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada?
The biggest companies operating in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada are Novartis, Apotex and Pharmascience
What does the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada include?
Gaining regulatory approval for generic drugs and Developing and producing generic drugs are part of the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada?
The company holding the most market share in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada is Novartis.
How competitive is the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing industry in Canada.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Canada include:
- Statistics Canada
- Industry Canada
- Canadian Business Patterns
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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