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MTP-CA Team Embraces Responsibility to Serve Patients, Exemplifying Corporate Vision

Q&A with President Andy
Zylak

In his role as President of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Canada (MTP-CA), Andy Zylak brings a steadfast focus to lead the company in helping Canadians living with rare and other diseases. With more than 20 years of experience in the Canadian pharmaceutical industry, Andy shares his vision for MTP-CA in Canada.

Drawing on your experience in the industry, what do you feel makes MTP-CA different as a company in Canada?

MTP-CA is special because the values of our organization drive every decision that is made. Those values centre around doing what is best for the patient while being responsible as a global pharmaceutical company. We’re bringing a solution at a time when there is not a well-established framework for the launch of rare disease products. Because of that environment, there are steps and processes that must be built along the way. We feel a great deal of responsibility to overcome challenges in the most efficient way that allows us to meet the needs of patients.

What are your biggest goals for MTP-CA?

It’s important that MTP-CA represents our parent company – Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America (MTPA) – and establish a reputation that is ethical and patient-focused to demonstrate the corporate values, which means focusing on patients and following through on commitments to them, their families, and the greater healthcare community. Another critical goal is to make our medicines accessible to as many patients who can appropriately benefit from them – and to do so with a sense of urgency because we know that everyday matters for these individuals.

When you think about the patient community, what inspires you most?

In every one of my interactions with patients in Canada, there’s been a consistent theme of hope and resiliency – and a sense of optimism that they can fight their disease. These patients are aware of the prognosis and typical course of their disease, yet they have a strong mental attitude that includes seeking the very best outcome possible. They try to live life to the fullest, knowing that every day matters.

As the Canada President, how do you inspire your team to live the corporate values?

A big part of our team’s inspiration is a sense of shared accountability — that we’re all building this together. It’s that sense of “We” that allows teams to surpass individuals every time. We are building a world class team where everyone has a strong sense of “getting in the game” and understands how their individual role contributes to the bigger picture that we’re all on a mission to be trusted partners of our healthcare colleagues in the clinical setting. It’s also inspirational to see how much of a personal commitment has been made by many people from our parent company and all in the spirit of helping to get our medicine to patients as quickly as possible.

Where do you see the company in five years in Canada?

Along with the global strategy of utilizing MTP-CA as a vehicle to bring new solutions, it will be great to look back and know that our first medicine for a rare neurological disease was our entry point to blaze a trail. We have assets in other disease areas, so that same kind of passion we have today extends beyond our current therapeutic focus. As our global company invests in other serious diseases, I would be pleased to know that Canada is a great place where we can deliver results and serve the patients.

What led you to get into pharmaceuticals as a profession?

I was a teacher by training, but I got into the pharmaceutical field to some extent because I have two doctors in the family. I truly value healthcare and helping people who are affected by debilitating and life-changing diseases.