Mr. Jean-Guy Goulet of ratiopharm Canada reports:

RATIOPHARM CANADA WINS IMPORTANT PATENT LEGAL BATTLE WITH PFIZER; DECISION COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO MILLIONS IN SAVINGS FOR CANADIANS

ratiopharm Canada has won a five-year legal battle against Pfizer Inc. to allow the marketing of amlodipine besylate (Norvasc) by Canadian generic manufacturers. ratiopharm was the first company to challenge the amlodipine besylate patent in 2004, and the only company to successfully see the case through to the federal court decision announced on July 8, 2009.

“We are extremely pleased at the decision by the federal court,” states Jean-Guy Goulet, president and chief executive officer, ratiopharm Canada. “This decision opens the amlodipine patent to generic manufacturers in Canada, the last major jurisdiction where the patent was held.”

ratiopharm amlodipine will be available to patients imminently through their pharmacy.  Amlodipine is an important cardiovascular medication, with more than 7,869,000 Norvasc prescriptions to Canadian patients each year, to treat high blood pressure and angina. Amlodipine Besylate is the highest selling medication in its class and the second highest selling medication over all in Canada. Ratiopharm’s success in the case could result in up to $180-million in savings annually to Canadian patients and the Canadian health care system.

Background:

• ratiopharm was the first company to challenge the amlodipine besylate patent in 2004.
• ratiopharm’s patent challenge was successful at the federal court level in February, 2006.
• Pfizer later appealed the decision in the ratiopharm case and won the appeal.
• ratiopharm started an action to invalidate the amlodipine besylate patent under the Patent Act on five grounds.
• ratiopharm won the case against Pfizer on July 8, 2009, invalidating the amlodipine besylate patent on all grounds.

Relevant facts:

• According to recent study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (July 7, 2009), spending on cardiovascular medications increased 200 per cent between 1996 and 2006.
• According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, five million Canadian adults have high blood pressure, representing 22 per cent of the adult population.
• According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, in 2002, Canada spent $2-billion, treating illnesses attributable to overweight and obesity.

Che dire per concludere? WELL DONE JEAN-GUY!  Marco.