Welcome to the Big Molecule Watch!

ENGLISH | 中文

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.

Similis Bio and Blau Farmaceutica Enter into Development and License Agreement for Biosimilars

On October 25, 2022, JSR Life Sciences and Blau Farmaceutica announced that Similis Bio, JSR Life Sciences’s business unit focused on biosimilar development, has signed its first development and license agreement with Blau Farmaceutica, a Brazilian pharmaceutical company. According to the press release, the agreement contemplates a multi-product and multi-year…

Read More

Mylan Files IPR on Regeneron Aflibercept Patent

Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. recently filed an IPR petition, PTAB-IPR2023-00099, seeking cancellation of claims 1-3 of U.S. Patent No. 10,857,205, assigned to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  According to the petition, the claims “are drawn to monthly dosing [of aflibercept] to treat an angiogenic eye disorder.”  The Petition sets forth three anticipation grounds and…

Read More

AbbVie’s Q322 Earnings Call Highlights Oncoming Adalimumab Biosimilar Competition

Last week, AbbVie held its third quarter 2022 earnings conference call, which included considerable discussion of forthcoming competition with biosimilars to HUMIRA (adalimumab) in 2023.  Some highlights below: According to Rick Gonzalez, AbbVie Chairman and CEO, “[t]he current market dynamics do not change our long-term guidance for aesthetics and we…

Read More

FDA Accepts Outlook Therapeutics' BLA for Ophthalmic Bevacizumab

Bottle of Pills and a FDA APPROVED rubber stamp

Outlook Therapeutics recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing its Biologics License Application (BLA) for ONS-5010 / LYTENAVA (bevacizumab-vikg), an investigational ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).  There are no FDA-approved ophthalmic formulations of bevacizumab currently…

Read More

Regeneron Identifies Six Patents for Expedited Trial in BPCIA Aflibercept Case Against Mylan

As we reported last week, the Northern District of West Virginia court has ordered an expedited trial in Regeneron’s aflibercept BPCIA case against Mylan.  As required by the court’s scheduling order, on October 28, Regeneron identified six patents for the first phase of the litigation.  Regeneron also agreed that “it will…

Read More

Biogen Seeks a Preliminary Injunction in Natalizumab BPCIA Case Against Sandoz

Biogen seeks a preliminary injunction in its BPCIA case against Sandoz related to Sandoz’s proposed biosimilar of TYSABRI (natalizumab).  On October 20, 2022, the Court issued a sealed order on the parties’ joint stipulation and proposed schedule for a preliminary injunction motion.  A redacted version of the parties’ proposed schedule…

Read More

Genentech Voluntarily Recalls SUSVIMO (ranibizumab)

This month, Genentech announced a voluntary recall of the ranibizumab injection (SUSVIMO) ocular implant and associated insertion tool.  SUSVIMO, which provides continuous administration of the anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor A) monoclonal antibody fragment ranibizumab, is approved by the FDA for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration.  According to Genentech,…

Read More

Request for Comments on USPTO Initiatives To Promote Generic Drug and Biosimilar Competition

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently published a request for comments addressing a variety of topics related to generic drug and biosimilar competition.  In July 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order on “Promoting Competition in the American Economy,” which directed the Secretary of Health & Human Services…

Read More