Pfizer Fails to Maintain Patent on Norvasc in Canada
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009Pfizer Inc., the world#8217;s biggest drugmaker, failed to maintain its patent on the hypertension drug Norvasc in Canada after a federal judge granted Ratiopharm GmbH permission to sell a generic version of the medicine.
More than 7.8 million prescriptions of amlodipine besylate, marketed by Pfizer as Norvasc, are sold annually in Canada, Ulm, Germany-based Ratiopharm said today. A generic version probably will save Canadian patients about C$180 !–more– million ($155 million) a year, the closely held company said. Pfizer said it will appeal.
#8220;We are extremely pleased at the decision by the Federal Court,#8221; Jean-Guy Goulet, chief executive officer of Ratiopharm Canada, said in a statement. #8220;This decision opens the amlodipine patent to generic manufacturers in Canada, the last major jurisdiction where the patent was held.#8221;
Ratiopharm challenged the Canadian patent in 2004 and won in 2006. Pfizer successfully reversed the ruling on appeal. Ratiopharm then sued to invalidate Pfizer#8217;s patent, with Judge Roger Hughes ruling in favor of Ratiopharm yesterday.
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