Reuters: Regulatory News: Canada high court lets Shoppers challenge proceed

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Canada high court lets Shoppers challenge proceed Aug 30th 2012, 13:50 OTTAWA | Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:50am EDT OTTAWA Aug 30 (Reuters) - The Supreme Court of Canada agreed on Thursday to hear a challenge to Ontario's ban on private-label generic drugs, a ruling that could boost the fortunes of Canadian pharmacy chains. The court gave top pharmacy chain Shoppers Drug Mart Corp and closely held Katz Group leave to challenge a province of Ontario regulation that forbids drugstores from selling their own private-label drugs. Part of a package of regulatory changes that have weighed on pharmacies' earnings, the rule was upheld by Ontario's highest court in December 2011, and has kept Shoppers from selling its Sanis private-label drugs in the province, its biggest market. Closely held competitor Katz Group, which operates Rexall drugstores, wants to launch a similar business. A Supreme Court ruling against Shoppers and Katz could inspire similar bans in other provinces, which have already followed Ontario's lead in cutting prices for generic drugs. But a decision in the companies' favor would help offset the impact of those price cuts, which along with changes in reimbursement rules have weighed on earnings. No date has been set for hearing the case. The cases are Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. et al. v. Minister of Health and Long-Term Care et al. (34649) and Katz Group Canada Inc. et al. v. Minister of Health and Long-Term Care et al. (34647).

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