Marc-André Gagnon

– BA in Political Science (Université du Québec à Montréal)
– Certificate in Economics (Université du Québec à Montréal)
– MA in Political Science (Université du Québec à Montréal)
– Master of Advanced Studies in Economics (ENS Fontenay/St-Cloud and Université Paris-I Sorbonne)
– PhD in Political Science (York University)

Dr. Gagnon’s empirical research focuses on the political economy of the pharmaceutical sector: business models, innovation policies, corporate influence over medical practices, health and drug insurance regimes.

From a more theoretical standpoint, his research analyzes capital accumulation and corporate competition in terms of how firms capitalize not only their productive capacity but also their capacities and their business network powers to influence laws, public policies, culture and socio-institutional settings in order to accrue monopolistic differential gains.

I am a political economist, which means that I take the power dimension in the economy seriously. Markets do not emerge naturally out of thin air as institutions maximizing social welfare due to the absence of state intervention. Markets are social and political creatures; they are the products of a complex political and regulatory process involving a diversity of agents working at influencing that process according to their interests, and determining the forms and details of each market.

In many markets, the financial incentives are not aligned with the desired social outcomes, creating incentives for dominant actors to obtain net gains at high costs and risks for the rest of the community. The pharmaceutical sector, where profitability depends more on marketing strategies than on therapeutic innovation, is in many ways a poster child of such a market. It is the role of public policy to understand the flaws in each market and find ways to re-align financial incentives and desirable social outcomes.

• Bacon MH, Vandelac L, Gagnon MA, Parent L. Poisoning Regulation, Research, Health, and the Environment: The Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Case in Canada. Toxics. févr 2023;11(2):121.
• Gagnon MA. Commentary: Reconsidering Pharmaceutical Research and Development Investments. Healthcare Policy. 2023 Feb;18(3): 25-30.
• Gagnon MA, Dong M. What did the scientific literature learn from internal company documents in the pharmaceutical industry? A scoping review. Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods. 2023;1(3):e12011.
• García Carrillo M, Testoni F, Gagnon MA, Rikap C, Blaustein M. Academic dependency: the influence of the prevailing international biomedical research agenda on Argentina’s CONICET. Heliyon. 1 nov 2022;8(11):e11481.
• Gagnon MA (2022) Miser davantage sur l’Open Science (Forum Prescrire). Prescrire. Août 2022.
• Gagnon MA (2021) « La Canada face à l’iniquité vaccinale globale : se situer du mauvais côté de l’histoire », Revue Interventions économiques, Hors-série. Transformations | 2021, mis en ligne le 10 novembre 2021.
• Testoni FE, García Carrillo M, Gagnon M-A, Rikap C, Blaustein M. “Whose shoulders is health research standing on? Determining the key actors and contents of the prevailing biomedical research agenda.” Plos ONE 16(4): p.e0249661 (April 2021) United States: Public Library of Science
• Lexchin J, Bero LA, Davis C, Gagnon MA.“Achieving greater independence from commercial influence in research” BMJ 372: n370 (March 2021)
• Gagnon MA. “Understanding the Battle for Universal Pharmacare in Canada; Comment on “Universal Pharmacare in Canada”.” International Journal of Health Policy and Management 10(3): pp.168-171 (March 2021) Iran: Kerman University of Medical Sciences
• Gagnon MA “SCo-pay cards in Canada: Improving choice or Institutionalizing bribes.” Canadian Medical Association Journal 191(45): E1235-E1236 (November 2019) Ottawa: Joule Inc
• Deborah Gleeson, Joel Lexchin, Ronald Labonte, Belinda Townsend, MA Gagnon, Jillian Kohler, Lisa Forman and Ken Shadle. “Analysing the impact of trade and investment agreements on pharmaceutical policy: provisions, pathways and potential impacts.” Globalization and Health 15(1): pp. 1-17 (November 2019) England: BioMed Central Ltd
• Charbonneau, Mathieu, and Marc-André Gagnon. “Surviving Niche Busters: Main Strategies Employed by Canadian Private Insurers Facing the Arrival of High Cost Specialty Drugs.” Health policy (Amsterdam) 122(12): pp. 1295–1301 (December 2018) Ireland: Elsevier B.V.
• Lexchin, J, JC Kohler, MA Gagnon, J Crombie, P Thacker, A Shnier “Combating Corruption in the Pharmaceutical Arena.” Indian journal of medical ethics 3(3): pp. 234–239 (July 2018) India
• Morgan, Steven G, Marc-André Gagnon, Mathieu Charbonneau, Alain Vadeboncoeur. “Evaluating the Effects of Quebec’s Private-Public Drug Insurance System.” Canadian Medical Association journal (CMAJ) 189(40): pp. E1259–E1263 (November 2017) Canada: Joule Inc.
• Gagnon, Marc-André, and Karena D Volesky. “Merger Mania: Mergers and Acquisitions in the Generic Drug Sector from 1995 to 2016.” Globalization and health 13(62): pp. 1-7 (August 2017) England: BioMed Central Ltd.
• Gagnon, Marc-André. “The Role and Impact of Cost-Sharing Mechanisms for Prescription Drug Coverage.” Canadian Medical Association journal (CMAJ) 189(19): pp. E680-E681 (May 2017)Canada: Canadian Medical Association.
• Morgan, Steven G et al. “A Better Prescription: Advice for a National Strategy on Pharmaceutical Policy in Canada.” Healthcare policy 12(1): pp.18-36 (August 2016) Canada: Longwoods Publishing.
• Gagnon, Marc-André. “New drug pricing: does it make any sense?.” Prescrire international vol. 24(162): pp. 192-195 (July 2015) Association mieux prescrire. PMID: 26237844
• O’Brady, Sean, Marc-André Gagnon and Alan Cassels “Reforming private drug coverage in Canada: inefficient drug benefit design and the barriers to change in unionized settings.” Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands) vol. 119(2): pp. 224-231 (February 2015) Elsevier
• Gagnon, Marc-André and Dimitri della Faille, 2014. “Thorstein Veblen: Économiste Iconoclaste.” European Journal of Economic and Social Systems. Vol. 26(1-2): pp.11-30 (2014) Hermes Science Publications. ISSN: 1292-8909
• Prémont, Marie-Claude, and Marc-André Gagnon. “Trois Types de Stratégies Des Fabricants Pour La Fidélisation Aux Médicaments de Marque.” Healthcare policy 10(2): pp. 79-89 (November 2014) Longwoods Publishing.
• Lexchin, Joel, and Marc-André Gagnon. “CETA and Pharmaceuticals: Impact of the Trade Agreement Between Europe and Canada on the Costs of Prescription Drugs.” Globalization and health 10(1): pp. 30–30 (May 2014) England: BioMed Central Ltd.
• Gagnon, Marc-André. “Corruption of Pharmaceutical Markets: Addressing the Misalignment of Financial Incentives and Public Health.” The Journal of law, medicine & ethics 41(3): pp. 571–580 (September 2013) Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• Gagnon, Marc-André. “Corporate influence over clinical research: Considering the alternatives.” Prescrire International 21(129): pp.191-194 (July 2012) Association mieux prescrire. PMID: 22852295
• Gagnon, Marc-André. “Drug Shortages: Searching for a Cure.” Healthcare policy 7(4): pp. 10–17 (May 2012) Canada: Longwoods Publishing.
• Marc-André Gagnon. “L’aide Financière à L’industrie Pharmaceutique Québécoise : Le Jeu En Vaut-Il La Chandelle?” Interventions Économiques pour une Alternative Sociale 44: pp.1-17 (November 2012) Association d’Economie Politique.
• Gagnon, Marc-André, 2011. “Marx’s social analysis of value and Big Pharma. Rethinking the social determinants of value in cognitive capitalism,” European Journal of Economic and Social Systems 24(1-2): pp. 119-136. Lavoisier.
• Gagnon, Marc-André. “Le modèle de croissance anglo-saxon en théorie et en pratique. Analyse du régime de croissance américain.” Cahiers de recherche sociologique 45: pp. 93–111 (January 2008) Liber
• Gagnon, Marc-André, and Joel Lexchin. “The Cost of Pushing Pills: A New Estimate of Pharmaceutical Promotion Expenditures in the United States.” PLoS medicine 5(1): (January 2008) San Francisco, USA: Public Library of Science.
• Gagnon, Marc-André. “Capital, Power and Knowledge According to Thorstein Veblen: Reinterpreting the Knowledge-Based Economy.” Journal of economic issues 41(2): pp. 593–600 (June 2007) Lincoln: Routledge.
• Marc-André Gagnon. “Penser Le Capitalisme Cognitif Selon Thorstein Veblen ; Connaissance, Pouvoir & Capital.” Interventions Économiques pour une Alternative Sociale 36 (October 2007) Association d’Economie Politique.
• Marc-André Gagnon, and Dimitri della Faille. “La Sociologie Économique de Thorstein Veblen ; Pertinences et Impertinences D’une Pensée à Contre-Courant.” Interventions Économiques pour une Alternative Sociale 36 (October 2007).
  Association d’Economie Politique.
• Dimitri della Faille, and Marc-André Gagnon. “Héritage et Nouvelles Perspectives Pour Les Sciences Sociales.” Interventions Économiques pour une Alternative Sociale 36: pp. 1-12 (October 2007) Association d’Economie Politique. ISSN: 0715-3570
• Gagnon, Marc-André “Frank Zappa: Présentation d’un Intellectuel Spécifique” Conjonctures (29): pp. 118-145.

• Gagnon MA. Combatting Corruption in the Pharmaceutical Sector. In: Faintuch J, Faintuch S, éditeurs. Integrity of Scientific Research: Fraud, Misconduct and Fake News in the Academic, Medical and Social Environment [Internet]. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2022 [cité 25 nov 2022]. p. 477 86.
• Gagnon, MA, 2021. “Ghost management as a central feature of accumulation in corporate capitalism: the case of the global pharmaceutical sector”. Chapter from Marlène Benquet and Théo Bourgeron (ed.) Accumulating Capital Today: Contemporary Strategies of Profit and Dispossessive Policies. New York: Routledge: pp.163-177.
• Gagnon, MA, Matthew Herder, Janice Graham, Katherine Fierlbeck and Anna Danyliuk, 2021. “Clinical trial data transparency in Canada: Mapping the Progress from Laggard to Leader”. Chapter from Katherine Fierlbeck, Janice Graham and Matthew Herder (eds.) Transparency, Power, and Influence in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Toronto: University of Toronto Press: pp. 114-128.
• Gagnon, MA, 2021. “The Political Economy of Influence; Ghost-management in the Pharmaceutical Sector”. Chapter from Katherine Fierlbeck, Janice Graham and Matthew Herder (eds.) Transparency, Power, and Influence in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Toronto: University of Toronto Press: pp. 159-183.
• Gagnon, Marc-André, 2017. « Financing the Public Provision of Prescription Drugs in Canada: Comparison and Assessment of Financing Options » in Katherine Graham and Allan Maslove (eds) How Ottawa Spends 2017-2018; Canada@150. Ottawa: Carleton University, October 2017.
• Gagnon, Marc-André, 2016. “Shaping the social determinants of value through economic ghostmanagement: an institutionalist approach to capital accumulation.” Published in Tae-Hee Jo and Frederic S. Lee (eds). Marx, Veblen, and the Foundations of Heterodox Economics: Essays in Honor of John F. Henry. London and New York: Routledge.
• Gagnon, Marc-André (principal author) and Dimitri della Faille, 2013. “Thorstein Veblen: Economista Iconoclasta.” Published in P.P. Poggio (dir.) L’altronovecento. Comunismo eretico e pensiero critico. Vol 3: Il Capitalismo Americano E I Suoi Critici. Milano: Jaca Book.
• Gagnon, Marc-André, 2012. “Les Droits de Propriété Intellectuelle sont-ils un écueil pour la modernité industrielle? La cas des brevets dans l’industrie pharmaceutique” in Marie-Pierre Boucher (dir.) La Propriété et ses Multiples. Montreal : Nota Bene: 201-250.
• Gagnon, Marc-André, 2004. “La main visible de la propriété intellectuelle contre l’intérêt général: Les formes disciplinaires du néolibéralisme,” in La Régulation Néolibérale: Crise ou ajustement?” Edited by Raphael Canet and Jules Duchastel. Montreal: Athéna Éditions; pp.175-200.
• Gagnon, Marc-André, 2002. “Mercantilisme,” in Relations Internationales: Théories et Concepts. Ed. Évelyne Dufault, Guillaume Dufour, and Alex MacLeod. Montréal: Athéna Éditions; 128-130.
• Gagnon, Marc-André, 2000. “Les réseaux de l’internationalisme statistique (1885-1914),” in Jean-Pierre Beaud and Jean-Guy Prévost (dir.) L’ère des chiffres: systèmes statistiques et traditions nationales. Québec: Presses de l’Université du Québec; 181-220.

• Pourquoi le Canada n’a-t-il pas le contrôle de ses vaccins contre la COVID-19? (Radio-Canada, June 2021)
• What is the Dominant Biomedical Research Agenda and Industry’s Massive Influence (Buzz Sprout, Causes and Cures Podcast, May 2021)
• Canada to take part in talks over COVID-19 vaccine patent waivers, but won’t state its position (Globe and Mail, May 2021)
• White House says U.S. plans to send 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Canada (CBC, Mar 2021)
• Column: COVID-19 vaccine task force transparency crucial (The Sudbury Star, Feb 2021)
• Momentum grows for vaccine technology-sharing as shortages worsen (Globe and Mail, Feb 2021)
• Was the global vaccine race inevitable? (Politico, Feb 2021)
• Montreal’s new vaccine plant will be late, but useful, observers say (Montreal Gazette, Feb 2021)
• The latest on the coronavirus outbreak for Jan. 28 (CBC, Jan 2021)
• Canadian politicians struggle to come to grips with the global vaccine race Social Sharing (CBC, Jan 2021)
• Lack of Collaboration Slows Vaccine Research (FPA News, Jan 2021)
• Guidelines governing Canadian doctors’ relationships with pharma companies under review (Carleton Newsroom, Nov 2020)
• ‘I never saw stars before’: Gene therapy brings back 8-year-old Canadian boy’s sight (CTV News, Oct 2020)
• Canada’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force needs better transparency about potential conflicts of interest (Carleton Newsroom, Oct 2020)
• Big Pharma Backs Joe Biden, But People Don’t Think He’ll Fix Drug Pricing (Newsweek, Sep 2020)
• Big Pharma’s Game of Control (The American Prospect, Sep 2020)
• Coronavirus: Encadrer la course aux traitements (Radio-Canada, Apr 2020)
• What needs to change in the Canadian pharmaceutical industry (CTV News, Jan 2020)
• Brand-name drug discount cards force Canada’s private-insurance plans to spend nearly 50 per cent more, study shows (Globe and Mail, Nov 2019)
• FPA Celebrates Democracy with 2019 Election Party (FPA News, Oct 2019)
• National pharmacare debate alive and well in Canada. But will it happen? (Global News, Oct 2019)
• Canadians Respond To U.S. Medication Import Plans (KRUC, Aug 2019)
• Shortages feared as U.S. looks to Canada for cheaper prescription drugs (CBC, Jul 2019)
• Unfinished business: Time for a national Pharmacare system (The Lindsay Advocate, Apr 2019)
• Médicaments : Facturer trois fois ses honoraires pour un seul et même geste (Radio-Canada, Mar 2019)
• U.S. PhRMA’s fight to prevent lower Canadian drug prices (CBC, Feb 2019)
• Just price for drugs: the eleventh hour (The Hill Times, Feb 2019)
• Canada has found the key to lowering drug prices, but it won’t be used any time soon (CBC, Nov 2018)
• Les ratés de l’assurance-médicaments au Québec (Radio-Canada, Nov 2018)
• Opioïdes: Le marketing d’une épidémie (Radio-Canada, Nov 2018)
• How to make medicine more accessible (Inquirer, Sep 2018)
• Should employers share potential tax burden for pharmacare? (Benefits Canada, July 2018)
• The history of why Canada’s health care system falls short (Macleans, May 2018)
• Are cures bad for the drug business? (CBC, Apr 2018)
• Number of people using catastrophic drug coverage has tripled, Ontario study finds (CBC, Mar 2018)
• The real story behind the sudden drop in Canada’s drug prices (CBC, Feb 2018)
• MPs mum about possibility of national drug plan (CBC, Feb 2018)
• New contender for world’s most expensive drug costs $850,000 US (CBC, Jan 2018)
• The missing Alzheimer’s pill (Politico, Dec 2017)
• La bonne gouvernance et la lutte contre la corruption dans le secteur de la santé (L’Économste, Nov 2017)
• Médicaments: Pourquoi payons-nous si cher? (Québec Science, Nov 2017)
• Popping pills: Do study drugs actually affect academic performance? (The Charlatan, Mar 2017)
• Speaking Unpopular Truths: Kevin Page and Munir Sheikh (FPA News, Mar 2016)
• Effective Public Policy: Carleton Experts Talk about How it’s Done (Carleton Newsroom, Mar 2016)
• Pensioenfondsen blokkeren prijsverlaging levensreddend medicijn (BNNVARA, Mar 2016)
• Marc-André Gagnon (FPA News, Feb 2016)
• Here’s one fix for high drug prices (CNN Business, Sep 2015)
• Drug companies using doctors, discount cards to skirt generic substitutions (CBC, Apr 2015)
• FPA Celebrates Outstanding Faculty and Staff (FPA News, Apr 2015)
• New provincial drug plan premiums too high, expert says (CBC, Mar 2014)