Pfizer plans to appeal a Canadian Federal Court decision in favor of generic manufacturer Apotex in its challenge to a Pfizer patent covering Lipitor.

The court denied Pfizer’s request to prevent Apotex from launching a generic version of Lipitor prior to the expiration of Pfizer’s enantiomer patent in July 2010. The court’s decision has no immediate commercial impact because Lipitor is protected by other patents in Canada that also are the subject of pending legal challenges, according to the New York City-based Pfizer.

Pfizer also said that the federal court ruling has no impact on Lipitor patent litigation in other countries.