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.

UPDATED: FDA Requesting Comments on Biomarker List

FDA has announced the opening of a docket (FDA-2016-N-2610) for interested parties (academic researchers, regulated industries, consortia, patient groups, etc.) to submit suggestions, recommendations and comments on a list of biomarkers that were used as outcomes to develop FDA-approved new molecular entities and new biological therapeutics from October 2007 to December…

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Amgen v. Apotex, Petition for Certiorari

We have been closely following the Amgen v. Apotex case.  On September 9, 2016, Apotex petitioned the Supreme Court for certiorari to review the Federal Circuit’s decision.  In its petition, Apotex presents two questions for the Supreme Court: Whether the Federal Circuit erred in holding that biosimilar applicants that make…

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Samsung Bioepis Biosimilars Update

According to Business Wire, on September 12, 2016, Samsung Bioepis announced that it has added Canada to its growing list of jurisdictions in which it has received regulatory approval for its biosimilar of Amgen’s Enbrel® (etanercept).  The biosimilar will be marketed in Canada under the brand Brenzys® as a treatment…

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Express Scripts Announces New Program for Biologics

On Thursday, September 8, Express Scripts introduced its Inflammatory Conditions Care Value Program, which it says is a “comprehensive approach to control costs and improve care for people with inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s Disease.”  According to the Express Scripts press release announcing the program, approximately 10 million…

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Board Institutes IPR of Genentech's Cabilly Patent

On September 8, 2016, the Board instituted an IPR of U.S. Patent No. 6,331,415, one of the Cabilly patents owned by Genentech. The Petitioner in IPR2016-00710 is Mylan.  The ’415 patent was the subject of two other IPRS that were terminated last week following settlements between Genentech and those Petitioners, Sanofi-Aventis and…

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