| Citation: |
Merck & Co. Inc. v. Apotex Inc., 2010 FC 1265, [2011] 2 F.C.R. D-4 |
T-1272-97 |
Patents
Infringement
Action for infringement of Canadian Patent No. 1161380 ('380 patent) issued for lovastatin, used for treatment of blood cholesterol, sold in Canada under trade name MEVACOR—Apotex Inc. subsequently selling own brand of lovastatin tablets in Canada—Plaintiffs claiming '380 patent to invention relating to lovastatin constituting “new substance” within meaning of Patent Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. P-4, s. 39(2)—Dispute between parties centring, in particular, on meaning of words “new substance” in s. 39(2)—No direct case law on interpretation of “new” in s. 39(2)—Within context of s. 39(2), “new substance” meaning substance not previously known or used rather than novelty—Plaintiffs proving combination of substances produced in '380 patent new, engaging s. 39(2)—Act, s. 39(2) creating presumption of infringement conferring on defendants evidentiary burden to rebut infringement—Phrase “in the absence of proof to the contrary” in s. 39(2) amounting to evidentiary burden to rebut presumption of infringement—Defendants establishing viable alternative existing not infringing '380 patent—Therefore, plaintiffs having persuasive burden to show, on balance of probabilities, that defendants’ sale of lovastatin made by process that infringed '380 patent—Plaintiffs meeting burden—Action allowed in part.
Merck & Co. Inc. v. Apotex Inc. (T-1272-97, 2010 FC 1265, Snider J., judgment dated December 22, 2010, 242 pp.)