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.

FDA Completes Safety Review of Lannett’s IND for Insulin Glargine Biosimilar

Lannett Company, Inc. (“Lannett”) announced Friday that the FDA has completed its safety review of Lannett’s Investigational New Drug application for Lannett’s insulin glargine biosimilar, a product Lannett is co-developing with its strategic alliance partners within the HEC group of companies, and has concluded that the company may proceed with…

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International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) Appoints Vivian Fritelli to IGBA Chair for 2022

On January 12, the International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) announced that Vivian Fritelli, Chief Executive of Generic and Biosimilar Medicines of Southern Africa, will be the next IGBA Chair for 2022.  The IGBA represents manufacturers of generic and biosimilars medicines around the world, and “works to improve patients’…

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Alvotech and JAMP Pharma Receive Marketing Authorization for SIMLANDI in Canada

On January 10, 2022, Alvotech Holdings S.A. (“Alvotech”) and JAMP Pharma Group (“JAMP Pharma”) announced that Health Canada granted marketing authorization to JAMP Pharma for a high-concentration biosimilar to Humira® (adalimumab) developed by Alvotech.  The biosimilar, also referred to as AVT02, will be marketed in Canada as SIMLANDI (100 mg/mL…

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AbbVie Inc. et al. v. Alvotech hf. Updates

We have previously reported on AbbVie’s first and second wave suits against Alvotech hf. (Alvotech) in the Northern District of Illinois regarding an adalimumab biosimilar.  In the second wave suit, on December 21, 2021, AbbVie filed a Second Amended Complaint.  On December 29, Alvotech filed a Renewed Motion to Dismiss…

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FDA Accepts Samsung Bioepis’ and Organon’s sBLA for their Citrate-Free, High-Concentration HUMIRA (Adalimumab) Biosimilar Candidate

Last week, Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. and Organon & Co. announced that the FDA accepted for review their supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for a citrate-free, high-concentration (100 mg/mL) formulation of SB5 (adalimumab-bwwd), a biosimilar referencing HUMIRA (adalimumab). The FDA previously approved SB5 under the brand name HADLIMA as a low-concentration…

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China Accepts Innovent Biologics’ Supplemental New Drug Application for Sintilimab Plus Bevacizumab Biosimilar Injection

On December 24th, 2021, Innovent Biologics announced that China’s National Medical Products Administration had accepted its Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for TYVYT®, a sintilimab plus bevacizumab biosimilar injection and chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated non-squamous non-small cell lung-cancer (nsqNSCLC) who progressed after EGFR-TKI therapy. The sNDA is based on…

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Year in Review: Top-Five U.S. Biosimilar Market Developments of 2021

As we ring in the new year, we look back at the top U.S. biosimilar market developments of 2021. Here are our top five: 1. SEMGLEE Launches As First-Ever Interchangeable Biosimilar In July, the FDA approved Viatris Inc.’s (formerly Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.) SEMGLEE (insulin-glargine-yfgn), a biosimilar to LANTUS (insulin glargine)….

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