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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 Aflibercept BPCIA Litigation

Emergency Motion for Entry of a PI Schedule Against Celltrion, Formcyon, and Samsung Bioepis On December 28, Regeneron filed emergency motions for entry of a PI schedule in its aflibercept BPCIA cases against Celltrion, Inc., Formycon AG, and Samsung Bioepis (“Samsung”).  Regeneron seeks a PI schedule to “ensure an orderly…

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Breaking: Judgment in Regeneron v. Mylan (aflibercept) BPCIA Case Finding Some Claims of Asserted Patents Valid and Infringed

As previously reported by Big Molecule Watch, trial in Regeneron’s BPCIA case against Biocon regarding Biocon’s proposed aflibercept biosimilar concluded on June 15, 2023 in the Northern District of West Virginia.  The patents-at-issue are directed to formulations and dosing regimens for aflibercept, an anti-VEGF treatment for retinal disorders including age-related…

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Year in Review: Top Deals in 2023

According to PWC, “2023 was a reasonably strong year for the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector with both deal value and volume of M&A close to pre-pandemic levels.” Below is a recap of the top M&A deals in 2023 that focus on biologics and biosimilars and were covered on the…

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CRISPR Regulatory Updates

European Medicines Agency

On December 15, 2023, Vertex announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion for the conditional approval of CASGEVY (exagamglogene autotemcel [exa-cel]), a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited therapy, for the treatment of severe sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta…

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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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