MEDIA ADVISORY
PRESS BRIEFING
Cancellation of Pfizer’s patent on Norvasc
May 8, 2007, 11 am to 1pm
Bacolod Chicken Inasal
Jupiter St., Makati City
SPEAKERS:
Shalimar Vitan Oxfam Policy Advocacy Coordinator
Salvacion Baciano Cut the Cost, Cut the Pain Network (3CPNet)
Usec Teddy Rivera Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC)
International agency, Oxfam is urging the Intellectual Property Office
(IPO) to cancel the patent of Pfizer on anti-hypertension drug,
Norvasc in the Philippines following the recent decision of the US
Court of Appeals nullifying the patent granted to Pfizer for
amlodipine besylate, Norvasc’s active ingredient.
The Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) will file a petition
on May 8, 10am before the IPO, nullifying the patent of Pfizer on
amlodipine besylate in the Philippines following the US Court of
Appeals decision.
The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the petition of Apotex Inc., a
Canadian generic drug maker challenging the patent of Pfizer on
amlodipine besylate.
Oxfam supports the petition of PITC in the light of Pfizer’s
fraudulent claim of invention of the besylate component of Norvasc.
The international agency believes that while Pfizer’s patent on
Norvasc in the Philippines will expire in June this year, the IPO
should act immediately to allow cheaper generic competition even
before the patent expires in June.
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