I'm not sure I made that specific point, but there is some overlap. One of our member companies, Sandoz, is part of the Novartis family, which is a brand name pharmaceutical company. Some of our companies have arms that also do research into new products, so there is some overlap between the two sectors. When the system is operating properly, brand name companies produce new, innovative medicines that improve therapies. When patents expire, generics come on the market at much lower prices. In Ontario and Quebec, for example, generic prices are capped at 25% of the brand name price. We provide head room for the health care system. We can fill four prescriptions for the price of one when a generic is available on the market. We each have a role to play. What we need are fair, equitable patent laws that allow that.
On October 4th, 2012. See this statement in context.