Federal Court of Appeal in Canada Upholds Lipitor Enantiomer Patent, Decision Prevents Launch of Generic Product by Ranbaxy until 2010

Pfizer Inc said today that the Federal Court of Appeal of Canada
has reversed a lower court ruling that held that Pfizer´s enantiomer
patent could not block generic manufacturer Ranbaxy Laboratories
Limited from obtaining approval for a competitor product to Lipitor.
The appellate court issued an order prohibiting regulatory approval of
Ranbaxy´s product in Canada until Pfizer´s enantiomer (calcium salt)
patent--Canadian Patent No. 2,021,546--expires in July 2010.

"This decision sends a strong signal about the importance of
protecting intellectual property in Canada, which provides the
incentive for research-driven pharmaceutical companies to make the
significant high-risk investments necessary to develop new life-saving
medicines," said Pfizer Senior Vice President and Associate General
Counsel Peter Richardson. "The court´s ruling is not only an important
one for Pfizer, but also for patients."

Ranbaxy may seek a review of the decision by the Supreme Court of
Canada.