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.

Updates on Patent Challenges by Biosimilar Manufacturers at the PTAB

In the last month, there has been a flurry of activity at the PTAB related to challenges from biosimilar manufacturers related to ustekinumab, aflibercept, and eculizumab patents. 1. STELARA® (ustekinumab) Four months after Janssen Biotech, Inc. settled to terminate Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd.’s inter partes review (IPR) challenge of U.S….

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FDA Approves First Cell-Based Therapies for Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease

On December 8, 2023, the FDA approved the first cell-based gene therapies for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) in patients 12 years and older—Vertex’s CASGEVY and Bluebird’s LYFGENIA.  SCD is a group of inherited blood disorders affecting approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. and inducing a median life…

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Recent Biosimilar Approvals

On December 7, 2023, Bio-Thera Solutions, Ltd. announced that the FDA has approved AVZIVI (bevacizumab-tnjn), a biosimilar referencing Genentech’s AVASTIN.  AVZIZI is the fifth bevacizumab biosimilar approved by the FDA, behind Amgen’s MVASI (bevacizumab-awwb), approved in September 2017; Pfizer’s ZIRABEV (bevacizumab-bvzr), approved in June 2019; Amneal’s ALYMSYS (bevacizumab-maly), approved in…

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Janssen and Samsung Bioepis Settle STELARA (Ustekinumab) Litigation

Samsung Bioepis recently reported that it has signed a settlement and license agreement with Johnson & Johnson (“J&J”) in the United States relating to SB17, Samsung Bioepis’s ustekinumab biosimilar to J&J’s STELARA®. If SB17 is approved by the FDA, the license period in the United States will begin on February…

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Regeneron Sues Formycon AG for Proposed Biosimilar of EYLEA in West Virginia District Court

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Regeneron”) filed a Complaint on November 29, 2023, against Formycon AG (“Formycon”) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, alleging infringement of 39 patents under the BPCIA based on Formycon’s submission of an aBLA for FYB203, a proposed biosimilar of EYLEA (aflibercept). …

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Regeneron Sues Samsung Bioepis for Proposed Biosimilar of EYLEA in West Virginia District Court

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Regeneron”) filed a Complaint on November 22 against Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. (“Bioepis”) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, alleging infringement of 37 patents under the BPCIA based on Bioepis’s submission of an aBLA for SB15, a proposed biosimilar of EYLEA…

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Acuitas Files Suit Against CureVac Alleging Incorrect Inventorship on COVID MRNA-LNP Vaccine Patent Family

Acuitas Therapeutics Inc. (“Acuitas”) filed a complaint on November 13 against CureVac in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleging incorrect inventorship of four U.S. Patents related to COVID-19 mRNA-LNP vaccines and assigned to CureVac, namely U.S. Patent Nos. 11,241,493, 11,471,525, 11,576,966, and 11,596,686, (collectively, the…

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Genentech, Roche, and Biogen Sue Dr. Reddy's and Fresenius for a Proposed Biosimilar of Rituxan in District of New Jersey

Genentech, Roche, and Biogen filed a Complaint on November 17 against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (“DRL”) and Fresenius in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, alleging infringement of 15 patents under the BPCIA based on DRL’s submission of an aBLA for DRL_RI, a proposed biosimilar of RITUXAN (rituximab)…

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European Biologics Regulatory Updates

Bayer’s aflibercept 8 mg recommended for approval in Europe: On November 10, 2023, Bayer announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion recommending aflibercept 8 mg for approval for extended treatment intervals in two major retinal…

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