This year marks the 30-year anniversary of the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations (Regulations), introduced in 1993 to prevent patent infringement by linking the regulatory approval of generic or biosimilar drugs with the patent rights of innovators.
Life sciences and healthcare
What is a natural health product? Health Canada’s findings upheld by Federal Courts


In recent months, the Federal Courts have twice upheld Health Canada’s findings as to what is, and is not, a natural health product. The Courts’ decisions provide insight into how natural health products are distinguished, under federal law, from cosmetics…
Drug pricing: PMPRB finalizes Interim Guidance amendments


The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) has amended its Interim Guidance to address prices of “New Medicines”, implementing a review threshold based on “below the median” of the PMPRB11 countries (Median International Price, MIP). “New Medicines”…
Federal Court finds that Health Canada breached procedural fairness by relying on an undisclosed internal guidance document



On August 8, 2023, the Federal Court overturned Health Canada’s decision that a cannabis product, Edison Jolts, was to be classified as edible cannabis and not cannabis extract. The Court found that Health Canada had breached the duty of procedural…
PMPRB Update: Consultation on Amendment to the Interim Guidance re New Medicines


The Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) has launched a 60-day consultation on proposed changes to the price-review process set out in its Interim Guidance of August 18, 2022 (Interim Guidance). The proposed changes would affect…
The Ontario Superior Court dismisses a generic manufacturer’s claim for damages under section 8 of the PM(NOC) Regulations


The Ontario Superior Court (ONSC) has dismissed a claim for damages under section 8 of the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations (the Regulations) brought by Apotex Inc. (Apotex) for lost sales of its Apo-Atomoxetine…
Supreme Court denies leave to appeal in generic Statute of Monopolies case
On April 27, 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an application by Apotex Inc. and Apotex Pharmachem Inc. (Apotex) for leave to appeal from a decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal (ONCA), dismissing its…
PMPRB Update: Federal Standing Committee on Health begins review of the Board


The Standing Committee on Health (HESA) has begun a study on the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB). HESA is made up of 12 Members of Parliament representing the four main parties in the House of…
Canada announces its first-ever national strategy for drugs for rare diseases



On March 22, 2023, Canada’s federal government announced its first-ever National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases, including an investment of up to $1.5 billion over three years to help increase drug access and affordability.
Investments made as part
…Higher costs awards coming to the Federal Court, including for pharma regulatory and IP disputes



Higher costs awards for Federal Court litigation are on the horizon, with the Canadian government consulting on proposed amendments to the costs structure in the Federal Courts Rules (the Rules). The proposed amendments are intended to increase costs awards…