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.

BPCIA Litigation Roundup (Spring 2017)

Below is our spring update on the U.S. patent litigations concerning proposed or approved biosimilar products. For additional details, please consult our BPCIA Litigation Summary Chart or our previous quarterly updates (Summer 2016, Fall 2016, Midwinter 2017).

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FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Approval of Pfizer's EPOGEN®/PROCRIT® Biosimilar

As we previously reported, the FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (“ODAC”) held a public meeting today regarding Hospira’s application for its proposed biosimilar of Amgen’s Epogen®/Procrit® (epoetin alfa).  Pfizer, Hospira’s parent company, has announced today that ODAC recommended approval of their proposed epoetin alfa biosimilar across all indications. According to the press release,…

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Cinfa Biotech Announces Positive Clinical Trial Results for Neulasta Biosimilar

gloved hand withdraws drug solution with syringe

Cinfa Biotech, a Spanish company focusing on the development of biosimilars, announced positive results from their second clinical trial evaluating a biosimilar version of Amgen’s Neulasta (pegfilgrastim). According to the company’s press release, the trial demonstrates that Cinfa Biotech’s biosimilar is comparable to Amgen’s Neulasta in terms of pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity, and…

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Coherus Responds to Apotex Citizen Petition Seeking Heightened Regulatory Requirements For Biosimilar Competition

We previously reported that Apotex filed a Citizen’s Petition requesting that FDA require biosimilar applicants to conduct comparative clinical efficacy studies in at least one intended patient population, rather than conducting such studies only in healthy subjects.  Apotex noted in its petition that Coherus has filed an aBLA for a Neulasta…

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Amgen V. Sandoz Jury Trial Pushed Off

A Stipulation and Scheduling Order for Trial (Order) entered on May 19, 2017 in the Amgen v. Sandoz litigation rescheduled trial for March 26, 2018 (from December 18, 2017), and pushed back other pre-trial deadlines.  According to the Order, the parties had previously proposed separate modified schedules, but at a…

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New BPCIA Litigation: Janssen v. Samsung Bioepis (D.N.J.)

On May 17, 2017, Janssen filed a complaint under the BPCIA in the District of New Jersey against Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. regarding Renflexis® (infliximab-abda), Samsung Bioepis’s recently approved biosimilar of Remicade®.  The complaint alleges infringement of three patents:  U.S. Patent No. 7,598,083, 6,900,056 and 6,773,600.  According to the complaint, the…

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