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.

Deal Watch: Samsung Bioepis and Takeda Enter into Partnership

Samsung Bioepis announced that it has entered into a Strategic Collaboration Agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company to co-develop novel biologic therapies in unmet disease areas.  The companies’ first therapeutic candidate is intended to treat severe acute pancreatitis. According to the press release, diversifying into novel biologics development represents “a new chapter” for…

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Ireland's Department of Health is Requesting Comments Regarding its National Biosimilars Medicines Policy

Ireland’s Department of Health (the “Department”) recently reported on its website that it is “developing a National Biosimilar Medicines Policy to promote the use of biosimilar medicines and to create a sustainable environment for biological medicines in Ireland.”  The Department is now asking the public for its views regarding the…

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Biocon Requests Withdrawal and Re-Submission of EMA Applications for its Trastuzumab and Pegfilgrastim Biosimilars

As we’ve posted here, Biocon and Mylan are jointly developing a portfolio of biosimilars, including Fulphila (Pegfilgrastim) and Ogivri (Trastuzumab), and have filed applications for marketing authorization in the European Union (EU) for those products.  We also posted here that in July 2017, the French National Agency for Medicines and Health…

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Sanofi Sues MSD Regarding Follow-On Insulin Glargine Biologics

On August 8, Sanofi-Aventis filed a complaint for patent infringement against Merck Sharp & Dohme in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey regarding Merck’s proposed follow-on biologics of Sanofi-Aventis’s Lantus® and Lantus® SoloSTAR® ([rDNA origin] insulin glargine) subcutaneous injection vial products.  The complaint alleges infringement of two patents: U.S….

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Mazumdar-Shaw Comments On Biocon’s Biosimilar Pipeline

Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman & Managing Director of Biocon, recently stated that Biocon is developing a portfolio of 10 biosimilars, and will continue to invest 12-15% of its revenue in research and development.  According to Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw, Biocon’s biosimilars span insulin, monoclonal antibodies, and other recombinant proteins for markets in India and…

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Federal Circuit dismisses Amgen’s appeal and mandamus petition

Today, the Federal Circuit dismissed Amgen’s appeal from and mandamus petition regarding the U.S. District Court for the Delaware’s order denying Amgen’s motion to compel discovery for lack of jurisdiction under the collateral order doctrine. Amgen sought to compel discovery from Hospira regarding two patents that Amgen had not included in its…

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Neupogen Dropped in New Formulary Exclusions

On July 31, Express Scripts identified new formulary exclusions that will go into effect on January 1, 2018.  For example, Amgen’s rG-CSF product, NEUPOGEN, will be excluded in favor of Teva’s rG-CSF product, GRANIX, and Sandoz’s biosimilar, ZARXIO.  Express Scripts has not explained, however, what the reimbursement level will be…

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Coherus Update on Biosimilar Pipeline

Coherus announced completion of initial phases of the Biologic Price Competition and Innovation Act patent exchange with Amgen for its pegfilgrastim biosimilar candidate CHS-1701. Coherus reported that it has received a complete response letter from FDA for CHS-1701’s biologic license application (BLA) and it anticipates resubmitting the BLA in the…

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