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.

Samsung Bioepis and Biogen Announce Pooled Analysis of Three Anti-TNF Biosimilars

Yesterday, Samsung Bioepis and Biogen announced pooled analysis results that will be presented this week at the 2018 Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR). Data from three separate Phase III randomized, double-blinded studies compared the safety and efficacy of BENEPALI (SB4, etanercept biosimilar); FLIXABI (SB2, infliximab biosimilar); and IMRALDI (SB5,…

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Updates On Discovery Rulings in AbbVie v. BI Adalimumab Litigation

We have covered the ongoing AbbVie v. Boehringer Ingelheim litigation concerning Boehringer Ingelheims’s (“BI’s”) aBLA for Cyltezo™ (adalimumab-adbm), a biosimilar version of AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab) product, including the grant of a recent motion to compel discovery regarding BI’s unclean hands defense.  Magistrate Judge Lloret issued two additional orders regarding discovery in that case….

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New IPR Petitions Filed Against GSK Vaccine Process Patents

Yesterday, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. filed four IPR petitions (IPR2018-01229,  IPR2018-01236, IPR2018-01234, and IPR2018-01237) against GlaxoSmithKline process patents – US Patent Nos. 8,753,645 and 9,265,839. The ‘645 and ‘839 Patents are directed towards a process of conjugating bacterial saccharides to protein carriers in order to improve the immunogenicity of…

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Samsung Bioepis Reports One-Year Follow-Up Results for Trastuzumab Biosimilar

According to an announcement by Samsung Bioepis, an additional one-year follow-up study on SB3, a biosimilar candidate referencing Herceptin® (trastuzumab), showed low incidence of cardiac safety events and no statistically significant difference in survival results compared to trastuzumab in patients with HER2-positive early or locally advanced breast cancer. The data…

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FDA Announces New Draft Guidance on Meetings Regarding the Development and Review of Biosimilar or Interchangeable Products

On June 4, 2018, FDA announced the availability of a new draft guidance on formal meetings with FDA concerning the development and review of biosimilar or interchangeable biological products.  The draft guidance, titled “Formal Meetings Between the FDA and Sponsors or Applicants of BsUFA Products,” is available here.  FDA also…

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Biosimilar Regulatory Submission Updates: Europe, U.S., Japan, Canada

Several biopharmaceutical developers recently announced significant regulatory submission activity in connection with biosimilar products in their pipelines.  In addition to yesterday’s news about the U.S. FDA’s approval of Mylan and Biocon’s Fulphila™ (pegfilgrastim-jmdb) biosimilar product, below are some highlights: On June 1, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use…

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FDA Releases Two Draft Guidances on REMS

For certain drugs with serious risks, the FDA may require drug developers to submit a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to ensure that the benefits of a drug or biologic outweigh its risks.  For an overview on REMS click here.  We have previously reported that FDA received numerous inquiries from generic…

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