Federal Court of Appeal Decisions

Date: 20011128

Docket: A-195-01

Neutral citation: 2001 FCA 371

CORAM:        RICHARD C.J.

DÉCARY J.A.

LINDEN J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                    NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CANADA INC.

                                                                 and NOVARTIS AG

                                                                                                                                                     Appellants

                                                                                                                                                   (Applicants)

                                                                                 and

                                                         RHOXALPHARMA INC. and

                                                        THE MINISTER OF HEALTH

                                                                                                                                               Respondents

                                                                                                                                              (Respondents)

                                          Heard at Ottawa, Ontario, on November 28, 2001.

                  Judgment delivered from the Bench at Ottawa, Ontario, on November 28, 2001.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:                                                   RICHARD C.J.

Date: 20011128

Docket: A-195-01

Neutral citation: 2001 FCA 371

CORAM:        RICHARD C.J.

DÉCARY J.A.

LINDEN J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                    NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CANADA INC.

                                                                 and NOVARTIS AG

                                                                                                                                                     Appellants

                                                                                                                                                   (Applicants)

                                                                                 and

                                                         RHOXALPHARMA INC. and

                                                        THE MINISTER OF HEALTH

                                                                                                                                               Respondents

                                                                                                                                              (Respondents)

                                       REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

                                           (Delivered from the Bench at Ottawa, Ontario

                                                              on November 28, 2001.)

RICHARD C.J.

[1]                 We are of the view, based on the decision of this Court in Pfizer Canada Inc. v. Apotex Inc., (2001) 11 C.P.R. (4^th) 245 (F.C.A.); motion for leave to appeal dismissed, Supreme Court of Canada Bulletin of Proceedings, September 28, 2001, that the motion to dismiss the appeal on the ground that the appeal is moot should be allowed and, accordingly, the appeal will be dismissed with costs to Rhoxalpharma Inc.

                                                                                                                                                    "J. Richard"                 

                                                                                                                                                    Chief Justice