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.

FDA Announces Closer Ties to WHO on Biologics

On May 31, 2016, the FDA issued a notice that FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (FDA/CBER) intends to “enhance technical collaboration and cooperation between the FDA, WHO, and its member states to facilitate strengthening regulatory capacity and support product development and standardization activities to increase access to safe…

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EU Parliament Takes Steps to Increase Manufacture and Export of European Generics and Biosimilars During Protected Period

The Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection of the European Parliament has adopted its report on the “Single Market Strategy” – a strategy that aims to consolidate industries in European countries under one umbrella. Included in the report is a section on “consolidating Europe’s intellectual property framework.” The report…

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FDA Accepts Samsung Bioepis's BLA for Remicade® Biosimilar

Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd., announced that the FDA has accepted its first biosimilar application submitted in the United States. The candidate, SB2, references Janssen’s Remicade® (infliximab), which treats several ailments, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis. Remicade® had over ten billion dollars in sales in 2014. As…

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PTAB Institutes IPR on Humira Patent

As we previously reported, the PTAB instituted IPR on U.S. Patent 8,889,135, which is drawn to a method of treating rheumatoid arthritis (“RA”) with Humira®, a TNFα-inhibitor. Claim 1 is directed to “A method for treating rheumatoid arthritis in a human subject, comprising administering subcutaneously to a human subject having…

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