(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pfizer Inc said today that it is disappointed by the Canadian Federal Court’s decision declaring invalid its patent covering amlodipine besylate, the active ingredient in Norvasc®, and that the company will appeal the decision to the Federal Court of Appeal of Canada. Pfizer's amlodipine besylate patent - Canadian Patent No. 1,321,393 - expires in 2010. The civil action was brought by Ratiopharm.

Pfizer remains committed to protecting its intellectual property rights and to ensuring the long-term viability of its research and development programs.

The company noted that legal challenges to this patent in Canada by other generic manufacturers are still pending.

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Founded in 1849, Pfizer is the world's premier biopharmaceutical company taking new approaches to better health. We discover, develop, manufacture and deliver quality, safe and effective prescription medicines to treat and help prevent disease for both people and animals. We also partner with healthcare providers, governments and local communities around the world to expand access to our medicines and to provide better quality health care and health system support. At Pfizer, more than 80,000 colleagues in more than 90 countries work every day to help people stay happier and healthier longer and to reduce the human and economic burden of disease worldwide.