FCA to select cases that are ready to progress during pandemic

By Jordana Sanft, Allyson Whyte Nowak, Judith Robinson and Brian R. Daley on April 19, 2020 Posted in Intellectual property

On April 15, 2020, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) published an updated Notice to the Parties and the Profession (FCA Update). As we previously reported, the FCA suspended the running of time under the Federal Courts Rules (the Rules) to May 15, 2020 (the Suspension Period).

The FCA Update advises that circumstances permit the FCA to exempt some cases from its previous notices, allowing them to progress towards a determination on the merits. The FCA will review the list of cases and based on the nature, complexity, and the extent to which … Continue Reading

Health Canada releases Guidance Document addressing the Plain Language Labelling Regulations requirements for non-prescription drug products

By Sarah Pennington, John Greiss and Randy Sutton on April 15, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Health Canada recently published a new Guidance Document that provides information on how Health Canada interprets and applies the 2014 Regulations Amending the Food and Drug Regulations (Labelling, Packaging and Brand Names of Drugs for Human Use) (colloquially known as the Plain Language Labelling Regulations or PLL Regulations) for non-prescription (i.e. over-the-counter or OTC) drug products.

The Guidance Document, entitled Questions and Answers: Plain Language Labelling Regulations for Non-prescription Drugs (the Guidance Document), is effective as of April 1, 2020. It identifies information that will support requirements mandated under the PLL Regulations, and points to other FAQs, … Continue Reading

Health Canada issues Interim Order to address shortages of health products

By John Greiss, Randy Sutton and Brian R. Daley on April 13, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Health Canada has published an Interim Order Respecting Drugs, Medical Devices and Foods for a Special Dietary Purpose in Relation to COVID-19 (the Interim Order). This Interim Order allows Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to address critical supply issues in an expedited manner when shortages occur. It was signed by the Minister on March 30, 2020.

The Interim Order allows the Minister to permit the exceptional importation and sale of: (1) drugs, including biocide drugs (such as hand sanitizers and disinfectants) but not natural health products (NHPs); (2) medical devices; and (3) foods for … Continue Reading

Quebec maintains drug evaluation activities for listing purposes and launches clinical trials

By Fortunat Nadima Nadima, Veronique Barry and Olga Farman on April 13, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

In this post, the Pharma in Brief team reports on two recent developments in the Quebec regulatory landscape related to the COVID-19 crisis.

Adjustments to submission procedure for applications for listing of innovative drugs and blood products on formulary

On April 6, 2020, Quebec’s Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) issued a notice to drug manufacturers and blood system product manufacturers describing temporary measures implemented recently to avoid processing backlogs for applications for listing on Quebec’s formulary during the COVID-19 crisis. As of March 30, 2020, manufacturers of innovative drugs or blood products can … Continue Reading

Federal Court issues first decision on patent term restoration – Minister’s decision denying certificate of supplementary protection (CSP) is unreasonable

By Morgan Westgate, David Yi and Kristin Wall on April 8, 2020 Posted in Intellectual property, Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

On April 7, 2020, the Federal Court issued a decision in Canada’s first judicial review under the Patent Act and new Certificate of Supplementary Protection Regulations (CSP Regulations). It is the first decision issued under this regime, and also one of the first decisions to apply the Supreme Court of Canada’s new standard of review framework set out in Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) v Vavilov, 2019 SCC 65 (Vavilov).

The judicial review application was brought by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S.A. (GSK) in respect of an August 3, 2018 decision (Decision) … Continue Reading

Canada completes domestic ratification of CUSMA

By Kassandra Shortt, Christopher A. Guerreiro and Kristin Wall on April 5, 2020 Posted in Intellectual property, Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

Canada has completed domestic ratification of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA, also referred to as USMCA or new NAFTA). As we reported, Canada introduced Bill C-4 to implement CUSMA on January 29, 2020 and it received royal assent as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act (CUSMA Implementation Act) on March 13, 2020.

No coming-into-force date for CUSMA has been set. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stated: “The Canadian government will continue to work with the United States and Mexican governments to determine an ‘entry into force’ date that is mutually beneficial” and that she … Continue Reading

Federal Courts Extend Suspension Period Until May 15

By Jordana Sanft, Allyson Whyte Nowak, Judith Robinson and Brian R. Daley on April 5, 2020 Posted in Intellectual property

The Federal Court (FC) and the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) have announced revised measures to facilitate limited court operations while providing relief to litigants and their counsel during the Covid-19 pandemic. As we reported, both courts introduced a first round of such measures in mid-March.

Federal Court

On April 4, 2020, the FC issued an Updated Practice Direction and Order (the FC Update), which supersedes the Court’s previous Practice Direction and Order of March 17, 2020 and the associated March 20, 2020 FAQ. The following are some of the highlights of the … Continue Reading

Ontario introduces formulary changes for generic drugs to mitigate risk of drug shortages

By John Greiss, Christopher A. Guerreiro and Kristin Wall on March 31, 2020 Posted in Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

On March 30, 2020, the Ontario government launched two one-day consultations on changes to regulations concerning the listing of generic drug products under the Ontario Drug Benefit Act (ODBA) and the Drug Interchangeability and Dispensing Fee Act (DIDFA). These consultations end March 31, 2020.

Both changes are said to be needed to help mitigate the risk of drug shortages in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Private-label generics eligible for listing

As we previously reported, the Ontario government took steps late last year to permit the listing of private-label generic drugs on the provincial drug … Continue Reading

Coulda, Shoulda, but Not Likely Woulda: Federal Court of Appeal affirms finding that generic would not have used a non-infringing alternative

By Bianca Pietracupa, Joanne Chriqui and Judith Robinson on March 29, 2020 Posted in Intellectual property, Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

The Federal Court of Appeal has affirmed the Federal Court’s decision awarding an accounting of profits to ADIR and Servier Canada Inc. (Servier), concluding that Apotex Inc. and Apotex Pharmachem Inc. (Apotex) would not have used a non-infringing alternative (NIA).

Background

In 2008, the Federal Court found that Servier’s patent for the drug perindopril was valid and infringed by Apotex. Apotex’s liability was affirmed on appeal. A trial on an accounting of profits ensued and Apotex was ordered to remit the aggregate amount of C$61 million plus interest. In a first appeal by Apotex, … Continue Reading

New Federal initiatives to combat pandemic: Patent Act amended to allow limited government use of patented inventions for public health emergencies

By Chelsea Nimmo, Anna Wilkinson and Kristin Wall on March 25, 2020 Posted in Intellectual property, Life sciences and healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and life sciences

On March 25, 2020, the Canadian Government passed into law Bill C-13, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19, following emergency sittings of Parliament and the Senate. Bill C-13 amends both the Patent Act and the Food and Drugs Act and may have implications for the pharmaceutical industry.

Patent Act – Limited government use of patented inventions for public health emergencies (s. 19.4)

A new stand-alone provision has been added to the Patent Act: section 19.4. This section allows the Minister of Health to apply for government authorization to make, construct, use, and sell a … Continue Reading