Welcome to the Big Molecule Watch!

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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.

New BPCIA Litigation: Amgen v. Mylan (W.D. Pa.)

On Friday, Amgen filed a complaint for patent infringement under the BPCIA against yet another developer of a biosimilar of Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim).  Amgen has sued Mylan in the Western District of Pennsylvania for infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,273,707 and 9,643,997, which Amgen alleges “claim methods of purifying proteins used…

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Sandoz Announces New Data For Its Adalimumab Biosimilar

Last week, Sandoz announced new data reportedly showing that its proposed adalimumab biosimilar matches the safety and efficacy profile of Humira®.  The data was obtained from a long term study of patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis.  As we reported here, Sandoz has filed a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) with the…

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FDA Announces Biosimilar User Fee Act Rates for FY2018

Last week, the FDA announced the Biosimilar User Fee Act (BsUFA) rates for the 2018 federal fiscal year, which runs from October 2017 through September 2018.  The FDA determined these rates pursuant to the Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act (FDARA), signed into law on August 18, 2017.  Among other things,…

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Pfizer Sues J&J, Alleges Anticompetitive Practices in Connection with Remicade®

Today, Pfizer filed an antitrust lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania alleging that J&J has engaged in an anticompetitive scheme to protect its Remicade® (infliximab) product. The complaint alleges that “[w]hen Pfizer introduced its competing biologic Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb) in 2016, J&J…

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Recent IPR Updates

The PTAB has been a busy place for biologics patents in the past few weeks.  Here are some of the highlights: On August 29, Pfizer filed two petitions for IPR of Genentech’s U.S. patents related to formulations of Herceptin® (trastuzumab):  IPR2017-02019 on U.S. Patent 6,339,142 and IPR2017-02020 on U.S. Patent 9,249,218….

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Amgen v. Hospira: Rulings on Motions in Limine

We reported earlier this week that the district court in Amgen v. Hospira denied Hospira’s motion for summary judgment of non-infringement of its proposed biosimilar of Epogen®/Procrit® (epoetin alfa) and granted-in-part and denied-in-part the parties’ respective motions for exclusion of expert testimony. The district court also ruled this week on several motions in limine…

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