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.

Apotex Moves to Expedite Briefing on Appeal in Amgen v. Apotex

As we covered last week (here), Apotex is appealing the district court’s grant of a preliminary injunction to Amgen in Amgen v. Apotex. Apotex has now moved to expedite the briefing schedule on its appeal in the Federal Circuit.  In its motion, Apotex explains: “Under the district court’s order, Apotex suffers immediate harm because the launch…

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Korea Approves Biosimilar of Remicade

On December 7 Samsung Bioepis and Merck announced that Samsung Bioepis had received approval for its RENFLEXIS product by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea. RENFLEXIS, a biosimilar version of Janssen Biotech’s Remicade (infliximab), was approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative…

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UPDATED: Amgen Hoping to Capitalize on Preliminary Injunction Win in Florida in Other Litigation

After winning a preliminary injunction in Amgen v. Apotex, Amgen now hopes to capitalize on that win in another pending BPCIA case, Amgen v. Hospira, which is being litigated in the District of Delaware. Amgen filed a notice of supplemental authority in the Hospira case citing the Florida District Court’s order in Apotex in an attempt to provide further support for…

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Hearing on Preliminary Injunction in Amgen v. Apotex

Last Thursday, December 3, the U.S. district court for the Southern District of Florida heard oral arguments on Amgen’s motion for a preliminary injunction in Amgen v. Apotex. As we’ve discussed in previous posts (here, here, and here), Amgen is seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent Apotex from launching its…

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FDA’s Interim Response to AbbVie’s Citizen Petition

As we’ve previously reported, AbbVie filed a Citizen Petition on June 2, 2015 demanding that FDA impose particular labeling requirements on biosimilar applicants, and several other entities subsequently submitted comments on AbbVie’s petition.  On December 1, 2015, FDA issued an interim response to AbbVie’s petition indicating that “FDA has been…

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