Canada's Rx&D applauds landmark ruling by Federal Appeal Court as a victory for innovation

The Federal Court of Appeal in Canada has released a unanimous decision upholding some important safeguards in Canada's Intellectual Property (IP) Regime which are crucial to facilitating patient access to new medicines and to building a stronger, internationally competitive life sciences industry in Canada.

The ruling upholds a 2009 decision by the Federal Court of Canada which dismissed an application by the generic drug industry challenging the federal government's right to improve Canada's IP regime. The Food and Drug Regulations which came into effect in 2006 after widespread consultations with the research community, industry and academia, currently provide eight years of data protection for the scientific discoveries of innovative pharmaceutical companies.

"This is a clear victory for innovation in Canada," said Russell Williams, president of Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), adding: "It supports our collective goal to make Canada a world leader in creating jobs and opportunities in the knowledge economy."