Lyric discussion by Too.caffein8ed 

Cover art for Butts Wigglin' lyrics by Tragically Hip, The

Sure, it may include the line from brain candy, but certainly the metaphor of the verse applies to all pharmaceutical companies. Whether it's MacDonald saying the line, or a researcher at Merck, certainly the "sweet sound of patent approval" means the same to all those who will benefit from it, which may or most likely may NOT be the end user of the drug.