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.

Avastin Biosimilar Launches in India

Hetero Drugs Ltd. has announced the launch of a biosimilar for Roche’s Avastin® (bevacizumab) in India.  Hetero is marketing the drug under the brand name “CizumabTM” as a treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. Hetero’s launch is the second release of an Avastin® biosimilar in India– earlier this month, Reliance Life Sciences launched its own…

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Sandoz Announces Plans to Expand its Biosimilars Offerings

Sandoz has announced plans to expand its biosimilars offerings within the next five years, including a total of 11 filings by the end of 2017, and 5 launches by 2020.  Sandoz says that its next five launches will be biosimilars to Enbrel® (etanercept), Humira® (adalimumab), Neulasta ® (pegfilgrastim), Remicade® (infliximab)…

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Legislation Tracker: PRICED Act Proposes to Shorten Biologic Exclusivity Period from 12 to 7 Years

A bill introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday proposes “[t]o amend the Public Health Service Act to shorten the exclusivity period for brand name biological products from 12 to 7 years.” Titled the “Price Relief, Innovation, and Competition for Essential Drugs Act,” or the “PRICED Act,” the proposed bill…

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IPR Tracker: IPR2016-00383 (U.S. Patent No. 6,331,415) (Genzyme) (Cabilly II patent) - Denying Institution of IPR

IPR2016-00383 (U.S. Patent No. 6,331,415) (Genzyme) (Cabilly II patent) – Denying Institution of IPR The PTAB has denied IPR on U.S. Patent No. 6,331,415. On June 8, the PTAB instituted a separate Genzyme petition against this patent (IPR20016-00460), which was joined to an earlier Sanofi-Aventis and Regeneron IPR (IPR2015-01624) based on the same grounds.

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FDA Issues Interim Response to PhRMA/BIO Joint Citizen Petition on Biosimilar Labeling

As we previously reported, late last year the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) trade associations jointly submitted a Citizen Petition asking the FDA to impose stricter labeling requirements on biosimilar applicants. Last month, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) submitted a comment in opposition…

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Janssen Sues HyClone Laboratories Over Cell Cultures Used to Grow Celltrion’s Remicade Biosimilar

In the ongoing litigation over infliximab biosimilars, Janssen has filed two new complaints alleging infringement of claims in U.S. Patent No. 7,598,083: one against Celltrion and Hospira, and a second against HyClone Laboratories, Celltrion’s Utah-based supplier of cell culture media.  These complaints follow Judge Wolf’s recent order in Janssen’s original…

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