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.

Biosimilar Approval Updates in Europe and China

Full frame of molecular structure of liquids in motion.

On April 25, 2024, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (“CHMP”) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of marketing authorization for Biogen Netherlands B.V.’s biosimilar TOFIDENCE (tocilizumab), for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA), polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) and coronavirus disease…

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GSK Sues Pfizer, Pharmacia & Upjohn & BioNTech for Infringing mRNA Vaccine Patents

Late last week, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA and GlaxoSmithKline LLC filed suit in the District of Delaware alleging that Pfizer, Pharmacia & Upjohn, BioNtech SE, BioNtech Manufacturing GMBH, and BioNTech US, Inc. infringe five U.S. patents directed to mRNA vaccine technology.  The Patents-In-Suit are U.S. Patent Nos. 11,638,693; 11,638,694; 11,666,534; 11,766,401;…

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Moderna Litigation Against BioNTech and Pfizer Stayed Pending IPR

We previously reported on the litigation brought by ModernaTX, Inc. and Moderna US, Inc. (collectively, “Moderna”) against BioNTech SE, BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH, BioNTech US Inc. (collectively, “BioNTech”), and Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”) related to Moderna’s mRNA technology and the subsequent inter partes review (IPR) petitions filed by BioNTech and Pfizer.  Those…

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Alvotech Announces Positive Topline Results From Confirmatory Clinical Study for its Proposed Golimumab Biosimilar

On April 23, 2024, Alvotech announced “positive topline results from a confirmatory clinical study for AVT05,” Alvotech’s proposed golimumab biosimilar to Janssen Biotech, Inc.’s SIMPONI(R) and SIMPONI ARIA(R).  According to Alvotech, the confirmatory clinical study (NCT05842213) was a randomized, double-blind, two-arm, multicenter clinical study designed to investigate the therapeutic equivalency…

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