Pharmaceuticals/Biotechnology Health
Biotechnology is the area of science that studies molecular and cellular biology, plant, animal and human genetics,
and how the human immune system fights disease. There are four primary areas in health care in which biotechnology is currently
being used. These are the production of medicines, development of new vaccines, diagnostics to detect a wide variety of diseases
and genetic conditions, and gene therapy which uses genes as drugs to correct hereditary genetic disorders. Research is the
primary focus of the majority of biotech companies in British Columbia.
Pharmaceutical companies in British Columbia manufacture products for the prevention and treatment of disease in people and
animals. The products primarily fall into four main categories. These are human prescription drugs, dispensed only by a registered
pharmacist; human non-prescription drugs which include vitamins and health supplements; veterinary drugs; and biological medical
and pharmaceutical products which include vaccines, hormones and enzymes.
Currently, there are approximately 34 companies registered in the HINET database that are involved in
pharmaceuticals/biotechnology health. Complete company profiles can be found by conducting a search for pharmaceuticals/biotechnology
health in the HINET database.
