Novartis AG v Hospira Pty Limited [2012] FCA 1055

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Novartis AG v Hospira Pty Limited [2012] FCA 1055 Citation: Novartis AG v Hospira Pty Limited [2012] FCA 1055

Parties: NOVARTIS AG and NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED (ACN 004 244 160) v HOSPIRA PTY LIMITED (ACN 107 058 328)

File numbers: NSD 1048 of 2012 NSD 1207 of 2012

Judge: YATES J

Date of judgment: 28 September 2012

Catchwords: PATENTS – application for interlocutory injunctions – threatened supply of generic pharmaceutical products – imminent listing of products in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Schedule – whether prima facie case of infringement – whether balance of convenience and justice favours the grant of interlocutory injunctive relief

Legislation: Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 7, 18, 20, 24, 40, 97, 98, 117, 138 Patents Regulations 1991 (Cth) regs 2.2, 2.3, 3.12

Cases cited: AB Hassle v Pharmacia (Australia) Pty Ltd (1995) 33 IPR 63 Aktiebolaget Hässle v Alphapharm Pty Limited (2002) 212 CLR 411 Apotex Pty Ltd v Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) (2012) 290 ALR 1; (2012) 96 IPR 185 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill (2006) 227 CLR 57 Beecham Group Limited v Bristol Laboratories Pty Limited (1968) 118 CLR 618 Bone v Commissioner of Stamp Duties [1972] 2 NSWLR 651 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company v F H Faulding & Co Limited (2000) 97 FCR 524 Businessworld Computers Pty Ltd v Australian Telecommunications Commission (1988) 82 ALR 499 CCOM Pty Ltd v Jiejing Pty Ltd (1994) 51 FCR 260 F Hoffman-La Roche & Co Aktiengesellschaft v Commissioner of Patents (1971) 123 CLR 529 Interpharma Pty Ltd v Aventis Pharma SA [2011] FCA 32 Interpharma Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Patents (2008) 79 IPR 261 Leonardis v Sartas No 1 Pty Ltd (1996) 67 FCR 126 Lockwood Security Products Pty Limited v Doric Products Pty Limited (2004) 217 CLR 274 McCarty v The Council of the Municipality of North Sydney (1918) 18 SR (NSW) 210 Medrad Inc v Alpine Medical Pty Ltd (2009) 82 IPR 101 Northern Territory of Australia v Collins (2008) 235 CLR 619 Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd v Generic Health Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 239 Peaudouce SA v Kimberly-Clark Ltd [1996] FSR 680 R v Macfarlane; Ex parte O'Flanagan and O'Kelly (1923) 32 CLR 518 Rehm Pty Ltd v Websters Security Systems (International) Pty Ltd (1988) 81 ALR 79; (1988) 11 IPR 289 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd v Apple Inc (2011) 286 ALR 257 Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty Ltd v Apotex Pty Ltd (No 3) (2011) 196 FCR 1 Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc v Commissioner of Patents (1958) 100 CLR 5 Synthetic Turf Development Pty Ltd v Sports Technology International Pty Ltd (2005) 67 IPR 475