Clinical and investigative medicine. Médecine clinique et experimentale
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Historical Article
Relationships between the academic community and the pharmaceutical industry: the legislative background and its effect on spending on medical research and development.
Patent legislation governing drugs has evolved through a series of amendments to the Patent Act. From 1923 until 1993, Canada operated a system of "compulsory licensing," allowing generic copies of patented medicines to be manufactured within Canada and, by 1969, to be imported. In 1987, the act was amended (Bill C-22) to provide patented medicines with a fixed period of market protection before a compulsory license could be issued and to create a price review board to monitor and control prices charged. ⋯ The act also prohibits Canadian manufacturers from exporting a generic drug to a country where it is not protected if it still protected in Canada. Brand-name manufacturers want some means of patent term restoration if regulatory authorities prolong the time taken before marketing a drug. This legislation is being reviewed by parliament beginning in 1997.
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To determine the incidence of carbohydrate intolerance during pregnancy and its impact on neonatal outcomes, which have not been formally established in Canada. ⋯ In this population, carbohydrate intolerance during pregnancy is a significant problem. Not only is the incidence rate higher than that usually estimated, but the impact on neonatal morbidity is also significant.