| The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from Pfizer Inc. (PFE) that had sought to bar Apotex Inc. (AOX.YY) from selling a generic version of Norvasc, a popular hypertension drug. The dispute began in April 2003 when Apotex, a maker of generic drugs based in Canada, challenged the validity of Pfizer's patent on Norvasc and applied at the Food and Drug Administration to sell its own version. A federal trial was held in 2006, leading to a ruling in favor of Pfizer. The Washington-based U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, a special patent appeals court, reversed the trial court ruling and opened the door for Apotex. However, Pfizer's ability to sell Norvasc without competition from other companies expired on Sept. 25, 2007. |
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