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.

IGBA and GPhA Oppose WHO’s Biological Qualifier Approach

As we have previously reported, the WHO is considering a proposal to assign Biological Qualifiers (BQs), which are alphabetic codes assigned at random, to help standardize naming of biologics. But not everyone is on board with the WHO’s proposal. The International Generic and Biosimilar medicines Association (IGBA) has recently called…

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FDA Releases Internal Workload Study

The Biosimilar User Fee Act (BsUFA) requires FDA to contract with an independent accounting or consulting firm to study the workload volume and full costs associated with the process for the review of biosimilar biological product applications. On February 24, 2016, the FDA released the Final Results Report of its…

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Celltrion and Hospira Move for Summary Judgment on the ’471 Patent in Janssen v. Celltrion

Defendants Celltrion and Hospira in Janssen v. Celltrion have moved for summary judgment that U.S. Patent No. 6,264,471, which covers Remicade (infliximab), is invalid for obviousness-type double patenting. At the District Court status conference earlier this month, Celltrion told the court that it expects FDA approval of its infliximab biosimilar product in…

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