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.
