Bayer Inc. v. Pharmaceutical Partners of Canada Inc.

Bayer Inc. v. Pharmaceutical Partners of Canada Inc.
Court (s) Database
Federal Court Decisions
Date
2015-06-26
Neutral citation
2015 FC 797
File numbers
T-1440-14
Decision Content
Date: 20150626
Docket: T-1440-14
Citation: 2015 FC 797
Ottawa, Ontario, June 26, 2015
PRESENT: The Honourable Madam Justice Strickland
BETWEEN:
BAYER INC AND BAYER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GMBH
Applicants
and
PHARMACEUTICAL PARTNERS OF CANADA INC AND THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
Respondents
ORDER AND REASONS
[1] This is an appeal brought by the Applicants, Bayer Inc and Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH (collectively, Bayer), pursuant to Rule 51 of the Federal Courts Rules, SOR/98-106, of a decision of Prothonotary Lafrenière, dated March 26, 2015. The Prothonotary granted a motion of the Respondent herein, Pharmaceutical Partners of Canada Inc (“PPC”), seeking an order, pursuant to s 6(5)(b) of the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations, SOR/93-133 (the “NOC Regulations”), striking all portions of the underlying application by Bayer seeking an order prohibiting the Minister of Health from issuing a Notice of Compliance (the “NOC”).
[2] For the reasons stated below, the appeal is dismissed.
Background [3] In March 2014, PPC filed an Abbreviated New Drug Submission to obtain a NOC for its moxifloxacin hydrochloride solution for injection (“PPC-Moxifloxacin”). The reference drug for PPC-Moxifloxacin is AVELOX® I.V., sold in Canada by Bayer. In May 2014, PPC served Bayer with a Notice of Allegation addressing two of three patents listed on the Patent Register, Bayer’s Canadian Patent No 2,378,424 (the “424 Patent”) and its Canadian Patent No 2,192,418 (the “418 Patent”).
[4] The 424 Patent is titled “Moxifloxacin Formulation Containing Common Salt”. In applying for its NOC, PPC alleged that PPC-Moxifloxacin will not infringe the claims of the 424 Patent. On June 18, 2014, Bayer commenced an application pursuant to s 55.2(4) of the Patent Act, RSC 1985, c P-4 and s 6 of the NOC Regulations relating to the 424 Patent alleging, amongst other things, that PPC will infringe, or induce infringement of, the 424 Patent, and seeking an order prohibiting the Minister of Health from issuing a NOC to PPC (the “Prohibition Application”). On January 19, 2015, PPC brought a motion seeking an order, pursuant to s 6(5)(b) of the NOC Regulations, striking out all portions of Bayer’s Prohibition Application which pertain to the 424 Patent on the grounds that it is scandalous, frivolous and vexatious or was otherwise an abuse of process. The motion before the Prothonotary, and this appeal, pertain only to the 424 Patent.
[5] PPC did not file any evidence in support of its motion to strike. It relied solely on the affidavit evidence filed by Bayer in support of its infringement allegation in the Prohibition Application. Bayer did not file any additional evidence in response to the motion to strike and no cross-examination was conducted of Bayer’s two deponents. Thus, the uncontested evidence before the Prothonotary was comprised of two affidavits: the affidavit, sworn on December 19, 2014, of Dr. Linda Dresser (Dresser Affidavit) who holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D.), is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, and is a hospital pharmacist with over 25 years of experience; and, the affidavit of Dr. Roland Grossman, sworn on December 18, 2014 (Grossman Affidavit). Dr. Grossman is a staff physician at Credit Valley Hospital and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is an expert on the use of antibiotics, including moxifloxacin, and in the treatment of respiratory infections such as community-acquired pneumonia, which is treated with moxifloxacin.
[6] The 424 Patent covers aqueous formulations containing moxifloxacin and sodium chloride in various specified concentrations. All 49 claims of the 424 Patent require the inclusion of moxifloxacin and sodium chloride. Independent Claim 1 of the 424 Patent claims: “an aqueous formulation comprising: from 0.04% to 0.4% (w/v) of moxifloxacin hydrochloride, based on the amount of moxifloxacin, and from 0.4% to 0.9% (w/v) of sodium chloride”. [...].
[7] Neither of Bayer’s experts suggested that PPC will directly infringe the 424 Patent and Bayer conceded when appearing before the Prothonotary that there was no evidence of direct infringement. The issue that was before the Prothonotary was whether PPC-Moxifloxacin will be co-administered with sodium chloride in a way that infringes the 424 Patent and, if so, whether the PPC Product Monograph would induce that infringement. The motion was heard on March 5, 2015 and was granted by Order dated March 26, 2015.
Issue [8] This matter raises only one issue, whether the Prothonotary erred in granting PPC’s motion to strike by finding that it was plain and obvious that Bayer’s Prohibition Application, in regards to the 424 Patent, should be dismissed as being clearly futile.
Decision of the Prothonotary [9] In his decision (Bayer Inc and Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH v Pharmaceutical Partners of Canada Inc and The Minister of Health, 2015 FC 388, at para 18 [Bayer]), the Prothonotary noted that the purpose of s 6(5) of the NOC Regulations is to allow the Court to expeditiously dispose of unmeritorious applications brought by first persons, here Bayer, which have no chance of succeeding. This is an extraordinary remedy that will only be granted when an application is “clearly futile” or it is “plain and obvious” that it has no chance of success (Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2007 FCA 163, at paras 28, 36). A second person, here PPC, can move under s 6(5)(b) to dismiss a first person’s application on the basis that the first person’s affidavit evidence is insufficient to prove that the second person’s allegations of infringement are not justified (Novopharm Limited v Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc, 2007 FCA 167). The moving party bears the burden of proof in such instances (Pfizer Canada Inc v Apotex Inc, 2009 FC 671 at para 33). To make such a determination, the motions judge must be able to make the necessary findings of fact, viewed in the light most favourable to the first person, and then apply the law to the facts. Further, a motion to dismiss will only be granted where it is apparent that there is no arguable case on the merits of the application.
[10] The Prothonotary found that Bayer did not adduce any evidence that PPC would directly infringe the 424 Patent. Rather, Bayer alleged that PPC will induce or procure others to infringe the 424 Patent. Specifically, Bayer alleged that PPC’s Product Monograph for PPC-Moxifloxacin directed the infringement and that the sale of PPC-Moxifloxacin would result in infringement. The Prothonotary stated that it is well established that there is no infringement of a patent in selling an article which does not itself infringe the patent, even when the vendor knows that the purchaser buys the article for the purpose of using it in the infringement of a patent (Slater Steel Industries Ltd v R Payer Co, (1968), 38 Fox Pat C 139 [Slater Steel]; citing Hatton v Copeland-Chatterson Co, 1906 CarswellNat 10).
[11] The Prothonotary found that it was not sufficient to claim that pharmacists or physicians would prescribe PPC-Moxifloxacin in an infringing manner and that, therefore, the inducement is made out. It is the second person’s actions which are at issue, and not the infringing conduct of others (Lundbeck Canada Inc v Ratiopharm Inc, 2009 FC 1102, at paras 367-369 [Lundbeck]). However, a second person may be implicated in the infringement by others of a patent if the second person induces that infringement.
[12] The Prothonotary identified the test for inducing infringement as articulated in Weatherford Canada Ltd v Corlac Inc, 2011 FCA 228, at para 162 [Weatherford] which he described as conjunctive and as follows (para 25):
First, the act of infringement must have been completed by the direct infringer. Second, the completion of the acts of infringement must be influenced by the acts of the alleged inducer to the point that, without the influence, direct infringement would not take place. Third, the influence must knowingly be exercised by the inducer, that is, the inducer knows that this influence will result in the completion of the act of infringement.
[13] The Prothonotary concluded that Bayer had no reasonable chance of success on the second prong of the inducement test set out above, based on the evidence that was before the Court. He found that there was nothing in PPC’s Product Monograph that was capable of establishing that PPC will infringe the 424 Patent by inducing infringement by others. Although infringement by inducement may be established by inferences reasonably drawn from a product monograph, or evidence on the dosage form, or the labelling or marketing of the generic product (Lundbeck at paras 356, 399), in this case, there were no facts, other than Dr. Dresser’s opinion, to support the claim that PPC is “instructing” others to infringe the 424 Patent. Whether such instructions are actually found in the Product Monograph for PPC-Moxifloxacin is a question of fact, not a matter of opinion. The Prothonotary stated that it is one thing for an expert to provide assistance to the Court in interpreting technical terms and quite another for the expert to proffer an opinion on the very issue to be decided by the Court. There was no evidence, other than speculation, that PPC will be seeking to sell its product in combination with sodium chloride, nor was there evidence of any overt attempt by PPC to influence or encourage others to infringe the 424 Patent.
[14] The Prothonotary went on to find that in the matter before him, there were no explicit instructions or directions to complete an act of infringement (Windsurfing International Inc v Trilantic Corp (1986), 8 CPR (3d) 241 (FCA)). Additionally, although “subtle references” in a product monograph may be enough to leave the reader with the impression that a drug can be used in a manner that would infringe a patent (AB Hassle v Genpharm Inc, 2003 FC 1443, at para 155), in this case the general and generic references to sodium chloride in PPC’s Product Monograph for PPC-Moxifloxacin did not amount to inducement. Merely stating that PPC-Moxifloxacin is safe for dilution with one of the six listed intravenous solutions, including sodium chloride, or that it can be used in sequence with solutions containing sodium chloride, without more, was not sufficient to conclude that PPC is knowingly inducing healthcare practitioners to co-administer PPC-Moxifloxacin with sodium chloride.
[15] Further, Dr. Dresser’s assertion that once PPC-Moxifloxacin enters the market in Canada, PPC will have to approach hospitals or wholesalers to convince them to dispense PPC-Moxifloxacin instead of AVELOX® I.V. was nothing more than conjecture and speculation.
[16] The Prothonotary concluded that, on the record before him, PPC had established that it was plain and obvious that Bayer had no reasonable chance of success in showing that PPC is or will be inducing infringement of the 424 Patent. As the test for inducement is conjunctive and Bayer had not adduced any evidence that can arguably satisfy all three prongs of the test, the Prohibition Application as it related to the 424 Patent would inevitably fail.
[17] Accordingly, PPC’s motion was granted and the sections of the Prohibition Application which related to the 424 Patent were ordered struck out.
Relevant Legislative Provisions Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations, SOR/93-133
6. (5) Subject to subsection (5.1), in a proceeding in respect of an application under subsection (1), the court may, on the motion of a second person, dismiss the application in whole or in part…
6. (5) Sous réserve du paragraphe (5.1), lors de l’instance relative à la demande visée au paragraphe (1), le tribunal peut, sur requête de la seconde personne, rejeter tout ou partie de la demande si, selon le cas :
[…]
[…]
(b) on the ground that it is redundant, scandalous, frivolous or vexatious or is otherwise an abuse of process in respect of one or more patents.
b) il conclut qu’elle est inutile, scandaleuse, frivole ou vexatoire ou constitue autrement, à l’égard d’un ou plusieurs brevets, un abus de procédure.
Submissions of the Parties The Applicants’ Position [18] Bayer submits that it is not plain and obvious that the Prohibition Application has no chance of success. The evidence from the PPC-Moxifloxacin Product Monograph and Bayer’s two experts establishes that PPC will be instructing physicians to prescribe and use the drug in an infringing way. Bayer submits that the Prothonotary had no basis on which to discredit the expert opinions adduced by them. It argues that the Prothonotary erred by taking on the role of the applications judge and assessing the sufficiency of Bayer’s evidence and yet failed to follow the law and view the evidence in the best light and in Bayer’s favour. Further, and contrary to what is stated by the Prothonotary, counsel for Bayer did not agree that the evidence boils down to a single paragraph in Dr. Dresser’s affidavit.
[19] Bayer submits that the PPC Product Monograph instructs pharmacists and physicians that PPC-Moxifloxacin can be co-administered with sodium chloride solutions and that Bayer’s expert opinions confirmed that this directs co-administration of PPC-Moxifloxacin in a manner that will result in infringement of the 424 Patent. The Prothonotary could not ignore the experts’ evidence, given that they are skilled experts in their fields, and instead adopt his own interpretation of how the PPC Product Monograph would be read. Product monographs are technical documents and it was necessary for experts to provide the Court with evidence of how it would be understood by pharmacists and physicians (Abbott Laboratories et al v The Minister of Health et al, 2006 FC 1411 at para 38 [Abbott Laboratories]).
[20] Although PPC has not yet marketed its product, the same circumstance would be present in every prohibition application under the NOC Regulations. In applications involving an infringement application, the Court and parties are always dealing with hypothetical situations, and therefore the Dresser and Grossman opinions cannot be dismissed as speculative. According to Bayer, the Prothonotary advised it that when PPC enters the market and in fact induces another to infringe the 424 Patent, Bayer will then be able to bring an action for infringement. Bayer submits that its right to bring an infringement action should have no bearing on the analysis under s 6(5)(b) and this statement undermines the purpose of the NOC Regulations.
[21] Bayer submits that the Prothonotary also erred in stating that there is no suggestion that PPC-Moxifloxacin will be substituted for AVELOX® I.V. First, the basis for the generic pharmaceutical industry is to market generic products to compete with the brand reference products, as PPC does in this case. Additionally, Dr. Dresser’s views on what will happen once PPC-Moxifloxacin enters the market are based on years of experience as a hospital pharmacist. She is familiar with the process a generic pharmaceutical company must take in order to have a hospital stock a generic drug, and her evidence is not conjecture or speculative. Further, there need not be an overt attempt or explicit directions by PPC in order to find inducement to infringe and, in any case, the PPC Product Monograph states that PPC-Moxifloxacin can be co-administered with sodium chloride, resulting in an infringement of the 424 Patent.
[22] Bayer goes on to submit that the onus on a motion to strike, made pursuant to s 6(5)(b) of the NOC Regulations is very high. A Court must find that the case is so clearly futile that it has not the slightest chance of success or that the Prohibition Application discloses no reasonable cause of action (Pfizer Canada Inc v Apotex Inc, 2009 FC 671 at paras 33 and 37). It is for the applications judge to weigh the evidence adduced and determine whether it meets the test for infringement (Pfizer Canada Inv v Apotex Inc, 2009 FC 250 at para 12; aff’d 2009 FC 671 at para 34). If there is any doubt as to whether Bayer has an arguable case, the appeal must be granted (Pfizer Canada Inc v Apotex Inc, 2009 FC 671 at para 34; Nycomed Canada Inc v Novopharm Limited, 2008 FC 454 at para 37). Additionally, applications of this type are already meant to be summary proceedings and s 6(5)(b) motions should be rare (Valeant Canada LP v Canada (Minister of Health), 2013 FC 1254 at para 38).
[23] Bayer next submits that PPC will induce infringement of the 424 Patent. A party who induces another to infringe a patent is liable for the infringement and in this case PPC, through its Product Monograph, is directing pharmacists and physicians to co-administer PPC-Moxifloxacin with sodium chloride, resulting in inevitable infringement of the 424 Patent (Apotex Inc v Nycomed Canada Inc, 2011 FC 1441 at para 18). Bayer reiterates the test for inducement (Apotex Inc v Nycomed Canada Inc, 2011 FC 1441 at para 18; AB Hassle v Canada, 2002 FCA 421 at para 17) and submits that infringement can be established through inferences drawn from the contents of the product monograph for the generic drug product (Lundbeck at paras 356, 399; Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2007 FCA 167 at para 11; AB Hassle v Canada, 2002 FCA 421 at para 55).
[24] In this regard, Bayer submits, first, that the evidence shows that the 424 Patent will be infringed by PPC-Moxifloxacin. In Dr. Dresser’s opinion, when PPC-Moxifloxacin is co-administered with 0.9% sodium chloride injection USP at ratios between […] and […], the resulting formulation will fall within claims of the 424 Patent. Additionally, Dr. Dresser notes that the PPC Product Monograph instructs the pharmacist that AVELOX® I.V. is compatible with six intravenous solutions. Dr. Grossman’s evidence was that in his experience physicians often rely upon pharmacists to advise them on drug compatibilities. His opinion was that AVELOX® I.V. is commonly co-administered with 0.9% sodium chloride solution and that a generic version of moxifloxacin would also be so administered. Therefore, the unchallenged evidence of the experts makes it clear that if PPC-Moxifloxacin is on the market, it will be co-administered with sodium chloride and this will result in the infringement of the 424 Patent.
[25] Second, Bayer submits that the PPC-Moxifloxacin Product Monograph directs infringement. Dr. Dresser’s evidence was that the determination of whether PPC-Moxifloxacin will be co-administered with sodium chloride, as is done with AVELOX® I.V., depends on the information contained in the PPC Product Monograph. Given that the Product Monograph for PPC-Moxifloxacin instructs that it can be co-administered with sodium chloride, pharmacists would advise that it should be used and co-administered in the same way as AVELOX® I.V.
[26] Third, Bayer makes specific reference to two cases that, it feels, are particularly instructive with respect to the importance of the Product Monograph. In AB Hassle v Genpharm, 2003 FC 1443 at para 155(h), the Court found that the product monograph was a “key document”. The Federal Court of Appeal held that the product monograph was evidence and the Court could draw adverse inferences from it to find that it would induce infringement. In Abbott Laboratories at paras 40-42, the Court found that the subject product monograph could be seen as “an encouragement to infringe” the patent. The Federal Court of Appeal upheld the decision (Novopharm v Abbott Laboratories, 2007 FCA 251 at paras 24-27). In that case, the Court indicated that product monographs have to be read through the eyes of physicians and pharmacists (Abbott Laboratories at para 38). Bayer submits that in this case the only evidence of how the PPC Product Monograph would be read was found in the Dresser and Grossman Affidavits, which the Prothonotary ignored, and that they have been deprived of the opportunity to have the judge hearing the Prohibition Application consider this evidence.
[27] Finally, Bayer submits that PPC will knowingly induce infringement. PPC chose to include 0.9% sodium chloride in the list of compatible solutions in its PPC Product Monogram with full knowledge of the existence of the 424 Patent. The Prohibition Application judge should be free to draw the inference that PPC will knowingly induce the infringement. By coming to a different conclusion based on the evidence, the Prothonotary improperly drove Bayer from the judgment seat and deprived it of the opportunity to have the Prohibition Application judge assess the evidence and draw inferences.
The Respondent’s Position [28] PPC submits, in essence, that Bayer has mischaracterized the PPC Product Monograph by claiming that it “instructs” or “directs” the co-administration of PPC-Moxifloxacin with sodium chloride when, in fact, it never refers to co-administration with 0.9% sodium chloride and explicitly states that dilution is not necessary. Further, there is no evidence that PPC would in reality induce any direct infringement, the evidence of Bayer’s experts being that practitioners would make treatment decisions based on medical factors and not on any influence by PPC. The Prothonotary properly understood the evidence, accepting Bayer’s experts’ opinions but not drawing inferences that controverted clear and unmistakable facts in the PPC Product Monograph.
[29] PPC submits that a second person may move under s 6(5)(b) of the NOC Regulations to dismiss a first person’s prohibition application on the basis that the first person’s affidavit evidence is insufficient to prove that the second person’s allegations of infringement are not justified. Further, PPC argues that the Prothonotary properly applied the legal standard, being that where the prohibition application is so clearly futile that it does not have the slightest chance of success, or that it is plain and obvious that it will not succeed, then a s 6(5)(b) motion will be granted, and the moving party bears the entire burden of proof (Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2007 FCA 163 at paras 28, 36; Pfizer Canada Inc v Apotex Inc, 2009 FC 671 at para 33).
[30] PPC submits that inducing infringement is a strict test that is difficult to meet. In this case, Bayer has not adduced any evidence establishing or even suggesting that PPC would directly infringe the 424 Patent. […] and, therefore, there is no direct infringement. The Prothonotary correctly identified and applied the test for inducing infringement (Slater Steel, citing Hatton v Copeland-Chatterson Co (1906), 10 Ex CR 224 (Ex Ct); aff’sd (1906), 37 SCR 651 (SCC)); Dableh v Ontario Hydro (1996), 68 CPR (3d) 129 (FCA) at para 43). The burden is on the plaintiff to adduce conclusive evidence that the direct infringement is the result of the defendant’s influence, and this test applies to PPC in these NOC proceedings (Hershkovitz v Tyco Safety Products Canada Ltd, 2009 FC 256 at para 160 [Hershkovitz]; Aventis Pharma Inc v Apotex Inc, 2005 FC 1461 at para 31). The NOC proceeding is focused on the actions of the second person, in this case PPC, and not the actions of other persons, such as physicians and pharmacists (Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2007 FCA 167 at para 10; Aventis Pharma Inc v Pharmascience Inc, 2006 FCA 229; Lundbeck at paras 367-371).
[31] On the second prong of the test for inducing infringement, the inducer must exercise sufficient influence over the direct infringer such that, but for the inducing activities, the direct infringement would not have taken place, and being partially responsible is not sufficient (Apotex Inc v Nycomed Canada Inc, 2011 FC 1441, aff’d 2012 FCA 195 at para 20; MacLennan v Products Gilbert Inc, 2008 FCA 35 at para 38 [MacLennan]; Slater Steel at para 41). The inducer must actively do something that leads the direct infringer to infringe. In the context of NOC proceedings, the generic company must do something more than merely selling a product which is used by a third party to complete an act of direct infringement. Additionally, even knowledge that the product will likely be used in direct infringement of a patent is not sufficient to meet the test (AB Hassle v Canada, 2002 FCA 421 at para 56; Aventis Pharma Inc v Apotex Inc, 2006 FCA 357 at paras 17-18; Aventis Pharma Inc v Apotex Inc, 2005 FC 1461 at para 32). Nor is alleging that a generic drug company, through its product monograph, website and marketing strategies, may be partially responsible for direct infringement by physicians, pharmacists and patients (Apotex Inc v Nycomed Canada Inc, 2011 FC 1441, aff’d 2012 FCA 195 at paras 2, 19-20).
[32] The Federal Court of Appeal has emphasized the importance of properly applying the test for inducing infringement in the context of NOC proceedings so as not to artificially extend the monopoly held by the patent holder by effectively transforming all pharmaceutical patents into compound patents, meaning that the patent holder would control the compound itself even where it is not protected by the patent (AB Hassle v Canada, 2002 FCA 421 at paras 57-58; Aventis Pharma Inc v Pharmascience Inc, 2006 FCA 229 at para 58, leave to SCC refused 2007 CarswellNat 859).
[33] PPC submits that Bayer’s evidence cannot establish induced infringement. The PPC Product Monograph contains nothing that establishes that PPC will induce others to infringe the 424 Patent. There are no facts that support the conclusion that Bayer asks the Court to draw.
[34] First, the PPC Product Monograph does not influence or instruct co-administration of PPC-Moxifloxacin with a sodium chloride solution. The Prothonotary acknowledged the expert affidavits but noted the distinction between the facts appearing in the PPC Product Monograph and the expert opinion on how the document would be interpreted and used. The facts upon which an expert opinion is based must be found to exist before weight can be given to the opinion. An expert should provide the trier of fact with inferences that the latter cannot make itself because of the technical nature of the facts. If, on the proven facts, the decision-maker can form their own conclusions, the opinion of the expert is not necessary (R v Abbey, [1982] 2 SCR 24 at 42 and 46).
[35] PPC submits that Bayer relies on an argument that the PPC Product Monograph “instructs” or “directs” use of PPC-Moxifloxacin with sodium chloride in concentrations that infringe the 424 Patent. Bayer’s position is based on the listed six compatible solutions and an alleged infringement by co-administration arising within that compatibility list as identified by Dr. Dresser. However, no witness ever calls the compatibility list an “instruction” or “direction” to co-administer the products. Rather, Dr. Dresser’s opinion was that there is an instruction to prescribe and use PPC-Moxifloxacin in the same way as AVELOX® I.V., including co-administering the PPC product with a normal saline solution in circumstances where the treating physician determines it to be advisable, which Bayer’s counsel, when appearing before the Prothonotary, described as the “linchpin” of the testimony.
[36] However, the PPC Product Monograph never instructs healthcare providers to co-administer PPC-Moxifloxacin with a sodium chloride solution and, in fact, states that it is unnecessary to dilute the product. Where the courts have been required to analyze a product monograph in respect of induced infringement, findings of fact pertaining to the product monograph’s content have been based on a direct reading of the monograph, not a party’s characterization of it (Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2007 FCA 167 at para 13; Lundbeck at paras 383-399). Further, although Bayer argues that PPC did not have to include 0.9% sodium chloride in the list of compatible solutions and that PPC’s decision to do so should lead to an adverse inference, Dr. Dresser’s evidence was that compatibilities are required to be listed in the product monograph.
[37] PPC submits that its Product Monograph together with Dr. Dresser’s evidence cannot support a legal conclusion that PPC will induce a healthcare practitioner to co-administer PPC-Moxifloxacin with a sodium chloride solution, and thereby directly infringe the 424 Patent. The Federal Court of Appeal has held that inducement to infringe cannot be inferred from a passing reference to a patented product embodiment in the monograph of the generic product (Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2007 FCA 167 at para 11). In this case, the list of six compatible solutions is a passing reference to the context of sequential intravenous therapy. Further, the “H. pylori” cases referred to by Bayer are distinguishable as the patents in those cases involved the uses of a drug and product monographs references to studies in which the drug was shown to be useful for the patented use. PPC submits that it is plain and obvious that, on the available evidence, Bayer cannot establish infringement but for the list of six compatible solutions in its Product Monograph and, accordingly, cannot meet the second prong of the test for inducing infringement.
[38] Second, PPC submits that any co-administration of PPC-Moxifloxacin with sodium chloride would be dictated by physicians based on medical considerations. Dr. Grossman set out decision-making steps that he would take in order to decide whether to co-administer moxifloxacin with anything else. He also admitted that he does not consult product monographs himself to determine the compatibility of products. Dr. Dresser also confirmed that co-administration would only take place where the treating physician determines it to be advisable. PPC cannot be held liable for inducing infringement when all decision-making leading to the infringement is made by the physician treating the patient and is not influenced by PPC. There must be conclusive proof that the direct infringement results from PPC’s influence (Hershkovitz at para 160). Partial responsibility is not enough and, based on this evidence, Bayer cannot meet the test for inducing infringement (MacLennan at para 38; Apotex Inc v Nycomed Canada Inc, 2011 FC 1441 at para 20).
[39] Third, PPC submits that Bayer’s expert witnesses do not address the inducement test. In an attempt to overcome this omission in the evidence, Bayer has stated that PPC is obviously aware of the 424 Patent and eventual infringement and that mens rea can be attributed to PPC as the author of the PPC Product Monograph. However, PPC was required to serve a notice of allegations as per the NOC Regulations and Bayer cannot rely on this to establish that PPC knowingly influenced healthcare providers to infringe a patent. It cannot logically be inferred that PPC knew it would infringe the 424 Patent by writing a letter to Bayer alleging that it does not infringe that patent. Further, the PPC Product Monograph expressly states that the product does not have to be diluted (and therefore co-administered). A finding of inducement cannot be made based on an adverse inference (Weatherford at paras 155-171).
[40] The Prothonotary was entitled to find that Dr. Dresser’s opinion about what may happen in the future does not create facts where none exist, and that while better evidence may become available to support Bayer’s allegations after approval, this is all speculation at this juncture. As Bayer’s witnesses did not turn their minds to PPC’s role in influencing any infringing act, and as there is no evidence capable of establishing knowing influence of a direct infringement, Bayer’s Prohibition Application cannot possibly succeed. Upholding Prothonotary Lafrenière’s order will therefore preserve the administration of justice.
Standard of Review [41] The parties agree that where a Prothonotary’s order is vital to the final issue in a case, on appeal of that issue, a de novo hearing is required. Here the Prothonotary’s order is vital to the final issue in the case as, pursuant to s 6(5) of the NOC Regulations, it dismisses as vexatious all parts of the Prohibition Application pertaining to the 424 Patent (Merck & Co Inc v Apotex Inc, 2003 FCA 488 at paras 17-19; ZI Pompey Industrie v ECU-Line NV, 2003 SCC 27 at para 18; City Centre Aviation Ltd v Jazz Air Lp, 2007 FCA 304 at para 14; Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2006 FCA 1125 at paras 16-17, 20, aff’d 2007 FCA 163 at para 8; Pfizer Canada Inc v Apotex Inc, 2009 FC 671 at paras 1, 30). Once it is determined that a de novo review is required, it is not necessary to attempt to identify any error in the decision under appeal (City Centre Aviation Ltd. v. Jazz Air Lp, 2007 FCA 304 at para 13).
Analysis [42] In my view, the Prothonotary did not err in granting the motion to strike Bayer’s Prohibition Application in regard to the 424 Patent because the application has no chance of succeeding at the hearing.
[43] The parties in their submissions have set out the general principles of law applicable to an application under s 6(5) of the NOC Regulations. They do not dispute these principles, but rather dispute how they apply to this factual situation. These principles are, in essence, that the purpose of s 6(5) of the NOC Regulations is to dispose of prohibition applications that have no chance of succeeding. This is an extraordinary remedy and the onus on the moving party in a motion to strike is very high (Nycomed GmbH v Canada (Minister of Health), 2008 FC 330 at paras 76-77; Pfizer Canada Inc v Apotex Inc, 2009 FC 671 at paras 33-34, 37). The application should be so “clearly futile that it has not the slightest chance of success” or it should be “plain and obvious” that the applicant has no chance of success (Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2007 FCA 163 at para 28; Pfizer Canada Inc v Apotex Inc, 2009 FC 671 at para 33). Granting motions to strike should be rare and should not be encouraged (Valeant Canada LP v Canada (Minister of Health), 2013 FC 1254 at para 38). The motions judge must make the necessary findings of fact viewed in the light most favourable to the first person, and apply the law to the facts (Abbott Laboratories Ltd v Canada (Minister of Health, 2007 FC 622 at para 37; Nycomed Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2008 FC 454 at para 37).
[44] While keeping this in mind, however, one must also consider that this provision is a part of the NOC Regulations and, therefore, the threshold for a motion brought pursuant to s 6(5) should not be impossible to attain. Additionally, possible future evidence of infringement is merely speculative and cannot be given any weight in a s 6(5) motion, such as this one (Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2007 FCA 167 at para 13; Nycomed Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2008 FC 454 at paras 36, 37).
[45] The starting point for this analysis must be that it is clear, and not in dispute, that there is no evidence of direct infringement by PPC in this case. The 424 Patent covers formulations including moxifloxacin and sodium chloride within certain specified concentrations. It was established by the Dresser Affidavit that […]. Bayer nonetheless asserts that health practitioners will infringe the 424 Patent by co-administration as a direct result of PPC’s influence in its Product Monograph and its attempts to have PPC-Moxifloxacin substituted for AVELOX® I.V.
[46] The test for inducement of infringement has been confirmed by the Federal Court of Appeal in Weatherford Canada Ltd v Corlac Inc, 2011 FCA 228 at para 162 as follows:
… A determination of inducement requires the application of a three-prong test. First, the act of infringement must have been completed by the direct infringer. Second, the completion of the acts of infringement must be influenced by the acts of the alleged inducer to the point that, without the influence, direct infringement would not take place. Third, the influence must knowingly be exercised by the inducer, that is, the inducer knows that this influence will result in the completion of the act of infringement: Dableh v. Ontario Hydro, [1996] 3 F.C. 751 (Fed. C.A.), paras. 42, 43, leave to appeal refused, (1997), [1996] S.C.C.A. No. 441 (S.C.C.); AB Hassle v. Canada (Minister of National Health & Welfare), 2002 FCA 421, 22 C.P.R. (4th) 1 (Fed. C.A.), para. 17, leave to appeal refused, (2003), [2002] S.C.C.A. No. 531 (S.C.C.); MacLennan c. Gilbert Tech Inc., 2008 FCA 35, 67 C.P.R. (4th) 161 (F.C.A.), para. 13.
[47] Subsequent jurisprudence has clarified what must be established in order to meet the three parts of the test for inducing infringement. This includes “that it is not an infringement of a patent to sell an article which in itself does not infringe, although it may be so used as to infringe such patent”, and this is so even if the seller knows that the article will be used to infringe a patent (Slater Steel at para 27; citing Hatton v Copeland Chatterson Co (1906), 10 Ex CR 224 (Can Ex Ct)). It is also not sufficient that pharmacists or physicians would prescribe the product in an infringing manner, but rather the Court has to look at the actions of the second person, in this case PPC. It is the generic producer’s actions, and not expectations of what might occur, that are at issue in such an application (Lundbeck at paras 367-371). The generic producer has to be implicated in order to find that there was inducement of infringement (Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2007 FCA 167 at para 10). The NOC Regulations are to prevent patent infringements by producers, and not patients, or, in this case, pharmacists or physicians (Aventis Pharma Inc v Pharmascience Inc, 2006 FCA 229 at para 57).
[48] Furthermore, “[c]ompletion of the infringement act must result of the influence of the direct infringer” (Hershkovitz at para 160). According to the Federal Court of Appeal, “an inducement to infringe generally cannot be inferred from a mere reference to the new use in the product monograph, for example, in the course of explaining contraindications or drug interactions, or as part of a list of scientific references” (Sanofi-Aventis Canada Inc v Novopharm Ltd, 2007 FCA 167 at para 11).
[49] On the second prong of the test for inducing infringement, the inducer, PPC in this case, must establish sufficient influence such that, but for the influence, the direct infringement would not have taken place. Alleging only partial responsibility is not sufficient (Apotex Inc v Nycomed Canada Inc, 2011 FC 1441 at paras 19-20). There must be influence from the alleged inducer and this influence must be exercised knowingly (MacLennan v Gilbert Tech Inc, 2008 FCA 35 at para 38). The mere sale of a generic product is not sufficient, but rather, there must be something more (AB Hassle v Canada (Minister of National Health and Welfare), 2002 FCA 421 at para 56; Aventis Pharma Inc v Apotex Inc, 2006 FCA 357 at paras 17-18). Additionally, simply knowing that the product will likely be used in an infringing way is not enough (Aventis Pharma Inc v Apotex Inc, 2005 FC 1461 at para 32, aff’d 2006 FCA 357).
[50] The case law from the Federal Court of Appeal has also emphasized the need to be prudent in applying the law of inducement in NOC proceedings for policy reasons. If patent holders are successful in prohibition applications brought when there is only a possibility that someone will use a generic drug in a patented manner, this would have the effect of artificially extending the monopoly of the patent holder. Although the facts of the case at bar are somewhat different given that it is not only the use of the compound that it at issue, but its co-administration with another solution, the same policy concerns are applicable. As stated by Justice Sexton in AB Hassle v Canada