In the first half of 2025, the Rx IP Update team reported on a number of developments in Canadian life sciences IP and regulatory law. Below are our top stories....more
In 2024, the Rx IP Update team at Smart & Biggar reported on a number of developments in Canadian life sciences IP and regulatory law. Highlights from 2024 are below; see also our top ten Rx IP Update reads of 2024....more
1/8/2025
/ Biosimilars ,
Data Protection ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Life Sciences ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Term Adjustment ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Popular ,
Prescription Drugs
Canada is an attractive market for pharmaceutical manufacturers. While universal healthcare does not currently extend to drugs in an outpatient setting, most Canadian consumers have some form of drug coverage through...more
In the fall of 2021, the Rx IP Update team celebrated its 20thyear of monthly updates on Canadian life sciences IP and regulatory law. Below are highlights from our team’s 2021 updates...more
1/5/2022
/ Access to Information (ATI) ,
Apotex ,
Biosimilars ,
CADTH ,
Canada ,
Certificates of Supplementary Protection (CSPs) ,
Class Action ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Damages ,
Data Protection ,
Excessive Pricing ,
Generic Drugs ,
Health Canada ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Life Sciences ,
Litigation Funding ,
Natural Products ,
Pan-Canadian Framework ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Statute of Monopolies
As previously reported... on September 16, 2020, Canada’s Minister of Health approved an Interim Order Respecting the Importation, Sale and Advertising of Drugs for Use in Relation to COVID-19 (the ISAD Interim Order), which...more
4/16/2021
/ Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Deadlines ,
Health Canada ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Manufacturers ,
Minister of Health ,
Patented Medicines ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Vaccinations
In the first half of 2020, Rx IP Update reported on a number of developments in Canadian life sciences IP and regulatory law. We review the following top developments...more
7/23/2020
/ Amended Regulation ,
Canada ,
Canadian Competition Act ,
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) ,
Class Action ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Court Closures ,
Court Schedules ,
Damages ,
Generic Drugs ,
Health Canada ,
Jurisdiction ,
Life Sciences ,
Lost Profits ,
Mootness ,
Motions to Quash ,
Patent Expiration ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Price-Fixing ,
Section 8
This week Canada rushed to implement new laws in response to COVID-19, including addition of Section 19.4 of the Patent Act. Bill C-13, entitled the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, was introduced in Parliament on March 24,...more
3/27/2020
/ Amended Rules ,
Canada ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Response Act ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Inventions ,
Medical Supplies ,
Patent Act ,
Patented Medicines ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Relief Measures ,
Vaccinations
On November 21, 2019, the Patented Medicines Prices Review Board (“PMPRB”) released draft new Guidelines for consultation, together with a backgrounder. The new Guidelines are intended to operationalize the amended Patented...more
11/25/2019
/ Amended Regulation ,
Canada ,
Draft Guidance ,
Drug Approvals ,
Drug Pricing ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patented Medicines ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Public Comment
September 21, 2019 marked the second anniversary of the certificate of supplementary protection (CSP) regime in Canada. CSPs provide an additional term of patent-like protection of up to two years. In our first anniversary...more
Federal Court of Appeal requires PMPRB to re-determine whether patent ‘pertains to’ Galderma’s DIFFERIN -
On June 28, 2019, the Federal Court of Appeal granted the appeal of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB...more
8/1/2019
/ Adverse Action Report ,
Annual Reports ,
Appeals ,
Biosimilars ,
CADTH ,
Canada ,
Dismissals ,
Draft Guidance ,
Drug Pricing ,
Guidance Update ,
Health Canada ,
Hospitals ,
Interlocutory Appeals ,
Judicial Review ,
Patent Act ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patented Medicines ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Public Consultations ,
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Below are the major highlights in Canadian life sciences intellectual property and regulatory law that we have reported on in the first half of 2019....more
7/10/2019
/ Amended Regulation ,
Apotex ,
Appeals ,
Biosimilars ,
Canada ,
Certificates of Supplementary Protection (CSPs) ,
Clinical Trials ,
Competition Authorities ,
CUSMA ,
Damages ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Generic Drugs ,
Health Canada ,
Health Insurance ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
International Litigation ,
Life Sciences ,
Medical Devices ,
National Pharmacare ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drug Coverage ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Section 8 ,
Statute of Monopolies
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Federal Court dismisses Servier's application for order of prohibition regarding salt patent for perindopril arginine
- FCA upholds issuance of NON-W letter and cancellation of reconsideration process...more
6/14/2019
/ Adverse Events ,
Amended Regulation ,
Appeals ,
Canada ,
Dismissals ,
Emergency Rooms ,
Health Canada ,
New Guidance ,
Notice of Appeal ,
Notice of Compliance ,
Orders of Prohibition ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Supreme Court of Canada
PMPRB amendments expected to come into force no earlier than Spring 2020 -
On April 1, 2019, Health Canada released Forward Regulatory Plan 2019-2021: Regulations Amending the Patented Medicines Regulations. This brief...more
5/3/2019
/ Appeals ,
Biosimilars ,
Canada ,
Certificates of Supplementary Protection (CSPs) ,
Conflicts of Laws ,
Drug Safety ,
Food and Drug Act ,
Generic Drugs ,
Health Canada ,
Labeling ,
Online Sales Bans ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Public Comment
Federal Court finds invalidity allegations relating to patent for metformin formulations not justified -
On March 8, 2019, Justice Fothergill granted Valeant Canada’s application for an order prohibiting the Minister of...more
4/6/2019
/ Administrative Procedure ,
Apotex ,
Appeals ,
CADTH ,
Canada ,
Clinical Evaluations ,
Competition Authorities ,
Delisting ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Federal Budget ,
Final Guidance ,
Final Rules ,
Health Canada ,
India ,
Intellectual Property Litigation ,
Judicial Review ,
Leave to Appeal ,
Medical Devices ,
Minister of Health ,
National Pharmacare ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Premarket Approval Applications ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Public Access Laws ,
Reversal ,
Scientific Evidence ,
Supreme Court of Canada
FCA overturns cefaclor damages decision on prejudgment interest issue, provides guidance on NIA defence -
On November 23, 2018, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) allowed in part Apotex’s appeal of a decision awarding Eli...more
12/22/2018
/ Amended Rules ,
Appeals ,
Biologics ,
Canada ,
Damages ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Free Trade Agreements ,
Generic Drugs ,
Health Canada ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
International Litigation ,
Non-Infringing Alternatives (NIAs) ,
Notice Requirements ,
Patent Litigation ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prejudgment Interest ,
Prescription Drugs ,
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
Apotex not permitted to plead promise-based invalidity grounds in Ontario section 8 lansoprazole action -
This motion arose in the context of a section 8 action in which Apotex claims damages for delay in the issuance of...more
Certificate of Supplementary Protection Regime: First Anniversary Update -
September 21, 2018 marked the first anniversary of the certificate of supplementary protection (CSP) regime. CSPs, which provide an additional...more
10/4/2018
/ Canada ,
Certificates of Supplementary Protection (CSPs) ,
Customer-Loyalty Programs ,
FDA Approval ,
Imports ,
Interim Rule ,
Leave to Appeal ,
Medical Devices ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Pharmacist ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Prohibition Applications ,
Supreme Court of Canada
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Shire’s VYVANSE patent valid, prohibition order issued
- First judicial consideration of Vanessa’s Law: Health Canada must disclose requested clinical trial data
- PMPRB News
- Patented Medicine...more
8/1/2018
/ CADTH ,
Canada ,
Canadian Patent Office ,
Clinical Trials ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Discovery Disputes ,
Drug Approvals ,
Health Canada ,
Leave to Appeal ,
Motion to Compel ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Tobacco ,
Tobacco Regulations ,
Vanessa's Law
An Update on Vanessa’s Law -
This is a special update on the Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act (Vanessa’s Law) which was approved on November 6, 2014 (as previously reported), amending the Food and Drugs Act...more
5/26/2018
/ Anti-Monopoly ,
Apotex ,
Appeals ,
Canada ,
Clinical Trials ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Damages ,
Drug Safety ,
Drug Testing ,
Eli Lilly ,
Food and Drug Act ,
Gilead Sciences ,
Health Canada ,
Jurisdiction ,
Leave to Appeal ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
New Regulations ,
Opioid ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patented Medicines ,
Pfizer ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
Pharmacies ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Post-Market Approval ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Section 8 ,
Supreme Court of Canada ,
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Standing Committee on Health proposes National Pharmacare program, modifications to prescription and generic drug pricing -
While common among member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development...more
5/4/2018
/ Apotex ,
Appeals ,
AstraZeneca ,
CADTH ,
Canada ,
Certificates of Supplementary Protection (CSPs) ,
Clinical Evaluations ,
Confidential Information ,
Damages ,
Discovery ,
Drug Approvals ,
EU ,
Health Canada ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Leave to Appeal ,
Medical Devices ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Term Extensions ,
Patent Validity ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drug Coverage ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Public Consultations ,
Section 8 ,
Summary Judgment ,
Supreme Court of Canada
No Section 8 Liability for Valid and Infringed Patent in NEXIUM Proceeding -
What happens when a patentee is unsuccessful in a prohibition application under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) (PMNOC)...more
4/4/2018
/ Calculation of Damages ,
Canada ,
Corporate Misconduct ,
Costco ,
Dismissals ,
Eli Lilly ,
Janssen Pharmaceuticals ,
Medical Devices ,
Motion To Strike ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patented Medicines ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
Pharmacies ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Rebates ,
Section 8 ,
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Gilead prevails in SOVALDI appeal -
The Federal Court of Appeal recently affirmed a trial decision relating to two competing patents over Gilead’s SOVALDI (sofosbuvir). In the trial decision, as previously reported, the...more
8/24/2017
/ Apotex ,
AstraZeneca ,
CADTH ,
Canada ,
Gilead Sciences ,
Health IT ,
Noninfringement ,
Patent Act ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Invalidity ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
Pleadings ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Public Consultations ,
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Supreme Court of Canada strikes down "promise doctrine", upholds AstraZeneca’s NEXIUM patent as useful -
As previously reported, on June 30, 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada granted AstraZeneca’s appeal in the NEXIUM...more
7/24/2017
/ Apotex ,
AstraZeneca ,
CADTH ,
Canada ,
CETA ,
Dismissals ,
Drug Approvals ,
EU ,
Food & Drug Regulations ,
Generic Drugs ,
Health Canada ,
Imports ,
Janssen Pharmaceuticals ,
Leave to Appeal ,
Opioid ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patent Validity ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Product Labels ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Public Consultations ,
Public Health ,
Reversal ,
Supreme Court of Canada ,
Warning Labels
Supreme Court of Canada News -
SCC denies Apotex leave to appeal omeprazole infringement decision. On June 1, 2017, the Supreme Court dismissed Apotex’s application for leave to appeal (docket no. 37478) the Federal Court...more
6/29/2017
/ Apotex ,
Appeals ,
Canada ,
Competition Authorities ,
GlaxoSmithKline ,
Health Canada ,
International Litigation ,
Leave to Appeal ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Mergers ,
Motion To Strike ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) ,
Patents ,
Personal Jurisdiction ,
Pharmacies ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Product Labels ,
Section 8 ,
Supreme Court of Canada ,
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Federal Court of Appeal finds that Apotex did not fail to mitigate its damages in relation to Apo-Trazodone drug submission -
On April 6, 2017, the Federal Court of Appeal overturned the Federal Court’s finding that...more
6/1/2017
/ Administrative Proceedings ,
Apotex ,
Appeals ,
Canada ,
CETA ,
Damages ,
Data Protection ,
Dismissals ,
Double Patent ,
Drug Approvals ,
Electronic Filing ,
Eli Lilly ,
Generic Drugs ,
Health Canada ,
Health Information Technologies ,
Judicial Review ,
Licenses ,
Life Sciences ,
Mandamus Petitions ,
Medical Devices ,
Obviousness ,
Patented Medicines ,
Patents ,
Pharmaceutical Patents ,
PMNOC Regulations ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Supreme Court of Canada ,
Teva Pharmaceuticals ,
Trials