For too long, stigma and discomfort have kept conversations about Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the shadows. But silence only makes it harder for people to get the support and care they need.
This World IBD Day, we’re pushing for change — challenging social and cultural taboos, encouraging open discussions, and ensuring no one with IBD feels ashamed to speak up. Because when we talk about it, we break barriers, build understanding, and create a stronger community.
At Pfizer Canada, for more than ten years we have been leading the way in advancing care for those living with IBD. Through extensive collaborations and initiatives, we continue to drive progress in Canada:
We've invested over $1.5 million to improve patient readiness, enhance healthcare professional proficiency, and collaborate with the IBD community to help establish intestinal ultrasound as the standard of care. This is helping to close the accessibility gap to this innovative procedure.
We have supported over $4 million in inflammation and immunology research, educational activities for HCPs, and patient-led initiatives - all focused on improving the lives of those with IBD.
Through continuous research and development, we remain dedicated to bringing scientific innovation to the forefront, advancing IBD care and supporting the IBD community in Canada. Since 2014, we have also been committed to making biosimilars available in Canada, which offer significant cost savings for the healthcare system while maintaining high quality standards.
Facts about IBD
In Canada, more than 322,000 people were living with IBD in 2023 and that number is expected to grow to 470,000 by 2035[1]. IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are lifelong diseases that inflame the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and disrupt the body’s ability to digest food, absorb nutrition and eliminate waste in a healthy manner. Although treatments can bring about and maintain remission and improve quality of life, there is no cure. IBD usually starts in adolescence or early adulthood in otherwise healthy people.
People with these diseases[2]:
Often experience 6+ months delay in diagnosis from symptom onset
Live with severe diarrhea, constipation, fever, rectal bleeding and blood in the stool, severe abdominal pain and cramps, fatigue, sleep problems, weight loss, diminished appetite
Live with ‘flares’ - onset of active symptoms after a period of remission
Often face social stigma of a disease that affects toileting habits
Pfizer remains firmly committed to helping improve the lives of patients with IBD and is proud to support patient groups, such as Crohn’s Colitis Canada, the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation and the Gastrointestinal Society.
[1] Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. Impact of IBD in Canada Report. https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/About-Us/Resources-Publications/Impact-of-IBD-Report#:~:text=322%2C600%20people%20in%202023%20(0.8%%20of%20the,14%2C000%20in%202035%20(1%20every%2038%20minutes)&text=Seniors%20are%20the%20most%20rapidly%20growing%20group,better%20therapies%2C%20and%20our%20population%20is%20aging.
[2] Crohn’s and Colitis Canad. 2023 Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada. https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/Crohns_and_Colitis/documents/reports/2023-IBD-InfoBrochure-ENG-v1.pdf