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.

Federal Circuit Rules No Tribal Immunity in IPRs

This morning, the Federal Circuit issued its much anticipated decision in St. Regis Mohawk Tribe v. Mylan Pharmaceuticals.  A panel of the court, consisting of Judges Dyk, Moore, and Reyna, held that “tribal sovereign immunity cannot be asserted in IPRs.”  Relying on the Supreme Court’s decisions in Oil States and SAS Institute,…

Read More

FDA Releases Biosimilar Action Plan (BAP) to Enhance Biosimilar Competition and Market Penetration

Today, the U.S. FDA released its Biosimilar Action Plan (BAP), which outlines the Administration’s proposed next steps to help reduce the costs of healthcare by expediting the development of robust biosimilar competition and market penetration, while encouraging innovation and maintaining incentives for investing in future products.  In remarks delivered at…

Read More

BPCIA Litigation Roundup (Q2 2018)

Below is our second quarter update on the U.S. patent litigations concerning proposed or approved biosimilar products. For additional details, please consult our previous quarterly updates (Q3 2016, Q4 2016, Q1 2017, Q2 2017, Q3 2017, Q4 2017, Q1 2018). Please also refer to our BPCIA Patent Litigation and Federal…

Read More