Welcome to the Big Molecule Watch!

ENGLISH | 中文

Goodwin’s award-winning Big Molecule Watch is the best resource for daily updates and analyses of regulatory issues, litigation, legislation, and other news in the world of biologics, biosimilars and related technologies. The editors of this blog have collectively been watching and engaging with the world of biologics and biosimilars (“big molecules”) since before the inception of the biosimilar industry in the U.S.  With extensive experience representing clients at all stages of a biologic’s or biosimilar’s lifecycle, from research and development, to patents, to regulatory application and approval, and through litigation and appeals, we are excited to share our observations and insights as the industry and the law continues to develop in this exciting area.

This blog focuses on “big molecules” as opposed to “small molecules.” Small molecule drugs have low molecular weight, a simple and well-defined structure, and are chemically synthesized. In contrast, “big molecule” drugs have high molecular weight, complex structures, and are derived from living organisms. For example, aspirin is small molecule while a monoclonal antibody is a big molecule. For further reading on big molecules, consider FDA's resources on biologics.

Mylan and Biocon Gain Approval for Trastuzumab Biosimilar in Brazil

On December 29, Mylan and Biocon announced that their trastuzumab biosimilar, Zedora, was approved by Brazil’s National Sanitary Surveillance Agency. Zedora, a biosimilar of Genentech and Roche’s Herceptin, is indicated for the treatment of overexpressing HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, HER2-positive early stage breast cancer, and HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer. Zedora…

Read More

Year in Review: Top 5 Biosimilars Deals of 2017

Here are our picks for the top-5 biggest deals in the world of biosimilars in 2017: 5. Companies developing biosimilar products continue to establish partnerships to market and distribute the products on a regional basis.  For example, Celltrion and Nippon Kayaku entered into an agreement under which Nippon Kayaku will sell Truxima®, Celltrion’s…

Read More

Year in Review: Top Five Legal Developments of 2017

Here are our picks for the top-five most significant legal developments regarding biosimilars in 2017: 5.  In January 2017, the FDA released a draft guidance on biosimilar interchangeability, entitled “Considerations in Demonstrating Interchangeability With a Reference Product.”  The guidance provides an overview of scientific considerations for demonstrating the interchangeability of a biosimilar…

Read More

Year in Review: The Top-Five U.S. Market Developments of 2017

Here are our picks for the top-five most significant U.S. market developments in the world of biosimilars in 2017: 1.  Compared to three approvals in 2016, the FDA approved five biosimilar products in 2017: Renflexis® (infliximab-abda) Cyltezo® (adalimumab-adbm) Mvasi® (bevacizumab-awwb) Ogivri® (trastuzumab-dkst) Ixifi® (infliximab-qbtx) In a press release regarding the approval for…

Read More

Year in Review: Top 5 Foreign Market Developments in 2017

Here are our picks for the top-five most significant foreign market developments in the world of biosimilars in 2017: The European, Latin American, and Asian markets are thriving with biosimilar applications and approvals.  For example, a rituximab biosimilar was approved in Latin America.  The EMA issued marketing approvals for at…

Read More

American College of Rheumatology Identifies Six Factors for Future FDA Biosimilar Oversight

In response to an FDA request for comments regarding existing requirements for biologics and biosimilars, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) submitted a letter identifying six “minimum components of review and oversight.”  The FDA’s request for comments was made pursuant to President Trump’s executive order regarding the reduction of regulation…

Read More

Genentech Files Complaint Against Sandoz in New Jersey Regarding Rituximab

We previously reported that on September 12, 2017, the FDA accepted for review Sandoz’s aBLA for a proposed biosimilar of Rituxan® (rituximab), which is indicated for the treatment of certain blood cancers and immunological diseases.  Yesterday, Genentech filed a complaint in the District of New Jersey based on Sandoz’s proposed rituximab biosimilar, Rixathon/GP2013.  Genentech…

Read More

Federal Circuit Issues Mandate in Amgen v. Apotex

As we previously reported, last month a Federal Circuit panel affirmed the district court’s judgment that Apotex’s pegfilgrastim and filgrastim biosimilar candidates do not infringe Amgen’s protein refolding method patent. Amgen’s time for filing a petition for panel rehearing or rehearing en banc of last month’s panel decision expired on…

Read More

FDA Accepts Samsung Bioepis’ aBLA for Herceptin® Biosimilar

Yesterday, Samsung Bioepis announced that the FDA has accepted for review the company’s BLA under the 351(k) pathway for SB3, a biosimilar candidate referencing Genentech’s Herceptin® (trastuzumab).  The press release states that this is Samsung Bioepis’ first submission for FDA-approval of an oncology biosimilar candidate.  According to the press release,…

Read More