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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.

Infliximab Clinical Trial Updates

The Big Molecule Watch is monitoring clinical trial activities involving infliximab.  Here we report on recent studies with Celltrion’s INFLECTRA (infliximab-dyyb). Earlier this year, clinical trial data was published from an observational real-world study of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease (“CD”) and ulcerative colitis (“UC”) in the…

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Denosumab Clinical Trial Updates

The Big Molecule Watch is monitoring Phase III clinical trials involving denosumab biosimilars.  Here we report on the results of two recently completed studies. On June 30, 2022, a study was published showing that the efficacy of AryoGen Pharmed’s biosimilar denosumab candidate, ARYLIA, is noninferior to Amgen’s PROLIA for the…

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Celltrion Files IND with FDA for Adalimumab Biosimilar

As reported by Pulse and DailyPharm Korea, Celltrion recently filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA for a global Phase 3 clinical trial aimed at demonstrating its biosimilar’s (YUFLYMA) interchangeability with HUMIRA (adalimumab).  The trial will evaluate the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of YUFLYMA in 366 patients with plaque psoriasis….

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Coherus Announces FDA Approval of CIMERLI (ranibizumab-eqrn)

On August 2, 2022,  Coherus BioSciences, Inc. announced that the FDA approved CIMERLI™ (ranibizumab-eqrn) as a biosimilar interchangeable with LUCENTIS® (ranibizumab injection) for all five indications, with 12 months of exclusivity.  Retina indications for which CIMERL is interchangeable include Neovascular (wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Macular Edema following Retinal Vein Occlusion…

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Regeneron Files First BPCIA Complaint Regarding Biosimilar Eylea Against Mylan in West Virginia District Court

Regeneron filed a complaint yesterday against Mylan in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, alleging infringement of twenty-four patents under the BPCIA based on Mylan’s submission of an aBLA for M710, a proposed biosimilar of EYLEA (aflibercept).  Regeneron asserts that use of Mylan’s M710 infringes seven…

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The Seventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal of the HUMIRA Antitrust Litigation

The Seventh Circuit issued this week a long-awaited opinion in the HUMIRA antitrust litigation, UFCW Local 1500 Welfare Fund v. AbbVie Inc., Case No. 20-2402.  The appeal is from the Northern District of Illinois’s dismissal of a proposed class action alleging that AbbVie, Inc. created a “patent thicket” around HUMIRA to block…

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FDA Accepts for Review Fresenius Kabi’s BLA for Tocilizumab Biosimilar

On August 1, 2022, Fresenius Kabi announced that the FDA accepted for review its Biologics License Application (BLA) for MSB11456, a biosimilar candidate for ACTEMRA (tocilizumab).  The BLA includes both subcutaneous (prefilled syringe and autoinjector) and intravenous administrations.  This is the first BLA accepted by FDA for a tocilizumab biosimilar. …

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Sandoz & Polpharma Announce FDA and EMA Acceptance of Applications for Natalizumab Biosimilar

Sandoz announced this week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the first-ever biologics license application (BLA) for a proposed natalizumab biosimilar to Biogen’s TYSABRI®.  The proposed natalizumab biosimilar is for treatment of adults with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).  The application is for an intravenous…

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