PATENTS
Infringement
Application for order prohibiting Minister of Health from issuing notice of compliance in respect of Novopharm’s 250 mg azithromycin monohydrate tablets until expiry of Canadian Patent 214807—Principles of patent claims construction— Essential elements of patent identified—Wet granulation process not essential element—Claim 23, claiming any “preparation” of oral dosage form that may exhibit no adverse food effects, overreaching scope of patent, invalid— Novopharm’s allegation of non‑infringement based solely on making tablets using dry granulation process not justified— Claim 23 not invalid for obviousness, anticipation— Application allowed.
Pfizer Canada Inc. v. Novopharm Ltd. (T‑2448‑03, 2005 FC 1299, Blanchard J., order dated 3/10/05, 65 pp.)