Apotex Files Lawsuit Seeking Compensation for "Improper" Government Actions

Company Seeks Damages for Previous Government's Decision to Ban Apotex Products from India

TORONTO, Oct. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - Canadian-owned pharmaceutical leader Apotex Inc. announced today that it filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking damages resulting from the previous government's unjustified and illegal decision to ban imports from Apotex's facilities in India in September 2014 and the denial of approvals of new products.

In October 2015, and again in June 2016, a Federal Court judge ruled that the previous government's ban came "without legal authority" and there was no evidence that there were serious health risks requiring the government to invoke an immediate ban without consulting the company.

"The previous government, under the then Minister of Health, Ms. Rona Ambrose, acted improperly and without justification to ban our imports from India and has caused Apotex very serious financial and reputational damage for our company," said Apotex Inc. CEO and President Dr Jeremy B. Desai. "We are disappointed that we were required to take this legal action, but it is necessary to protect our company and our reputation. We look forward to continuing to work with the government to provide access to affordable medicines."

Apotex has a 42-year history of providing quality, affordable medicines. With more than 11,000 talented employees globally, the company exports its products to more than 115 countries. Through its generic, innovative and biosimilar business divisions, Apotex is the largest R & D company in the Canadian pharmaceutical industry and plans to spend over $2 billion over the next decade on innovative research.

SOURCE Apotex Inc.

For further information: Elie Betito, Director of Government Relations, Apotex Inc., Tel: [phone], ext. 7366, Cell: 416-558-5491