CANADIAN DRUGMAKERS BATTLE IT OUT FOR AMERICAN PAINKILLER MARKET

Analysts are questioning whether Biovail Corp. will be the sole winner on the podium after the intense race by three small Canadian drugmakers to bring a revolutionary painkiller to the huge U.S. market. Toronto-based Biovail declared victory earlier this month after its drug was granted final approval plus three years of exclusive market access from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Biovail stock soared 25 per cent while Quebec-based Labopharm Inc. felt the pain, dropping by the same magnitude, while Cipher Pharmaceuticals of Toronto also slipped.
Canada East