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.

AbbVie Answers BI's Counterclaims in Adalimumab Litigation

As we previously reported, on August 2, 2017, AbbVie filed a complaint against Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware regarding BI’s aBLA for a biosimilar version of AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab) product.  We also reported last month that BI answered AbbVie’s complaint, and included counterclaims against AbbVie for invalidity…

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EMA Accepts Application for Cinfa's Pegfilgrastim Biosimilar

BioSimilars Patent Dance

Last week, Cinfa Biotech S.L. announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted its application to market a molecule referred to as B12019, a biosimilar of Amgen’s Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim), for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.  To support its application, Cinfa conducted two studies confirming the analytical and biofunctional similarity…

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Genentech Files A Complaint Against Amgen in Delaware Regarding MVASI® (bevacizumab-awwb)

We previously reported that on October 6, 2017, Amgen filed a declaratory judgment action against Genentech regarding Amgen’s recently approved biosimilar of Avastin® (bevacizumab-awwb). On the same day, Genentech filed a complaint in the District of Delaware, Civil Action No. 1:17cv1407.  While the complaint was filed under seal, according to a motion to transfer…

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Samsung Files Petition for IPR on Genentech Carter Patent

Last Friday, Samsung Bioepis filed IPR2017-02139 and IPR2017-02140, directed to Genentech’s U.S. Patent No. 6,407,213. According to the petitions, the ‘213 patent claims are directed to “humanized antibodies with non-human residues in the Complementarity Determining Regions (‘CDRs’) as well as in the framework region at certain, specified positions.” The petitions…

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Federal Circuit Oral Arguments in NYC Today

This week, six Federal Circuit panels will hear oral argument on at various venues in New York City.  Two of today’s oral arguments are in biosimilar cases that we have been closely following on this blog. First, at 10:00 AM, a panel will hear oral argument at the U.S. Court…

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