Pfizer Inc reported that the Federal Court of Appeal of Canada has reversed a lower court ruling that would have permitted generic manufacturer Novopharm to launch a competitor product to Celebrex. The appellate court issued an order prohibiting regulatory approval of Novopharm's product in Canada until Celebrex's compound patent expires in November 2014.

"Today's ruling is an important one not only for Pfizer, but also for patients in Canada and elsewhere," said Pfizer General Counsel Allen Waxman. "Without appropriate protection of intellectual property, Pfizer and other research-based pharmaceutical companies would not be able to make the tremendous investments required to develop new, life-saving medicines that are so critical to public health."

Novopharm may seek to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.