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.

Biogen Announces EMA Acceptance of Tocilizumab Biosimilar Application

Biogen Inc. (“Biogen”) recently announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the marketing authorization application for BIIB800 (BAT1806), a biosimilar candidate referencing Roche’s ACTEMRA (tocilizumab).  ACTEMRA, an anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, is approved in Europe as an intravenous formulation for severe, active and progressive rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic polyarthritis, active…

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Amneal Launches Bevacizumab Biosimilar in the United States

Yesterday, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the launch of its first biosimilar in the United States:  ALYMSYS (bevacizumab-maly), a biosimilar referencing Genentech’s AVASTIN product.  ALYMSYS is a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor approved by the FDA in April 2022 for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, recurrent…

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Celltrion’s Bevacizumab Biosimilar Approved by FDA

Celltrion announced this week that the FDA has approved VEGZELMA (bevacizumab-adcd), a biosimilar to AVASTIN, for treatment of six types of cancer: metastatic colorectal cancer; recurrent or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsNSCLC); recurrent glioblastoma; metastatic renal cell carcinoma; persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer; and epithelial ovarian, fallopian…

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EMA Adopts Positive Opinion for STADA and Xbrane’s Ranibuzumab Biosimilar Candidate XIMLUCI®

On Sep 16, 2022, Partners STADA Arzneimittel AG (“STADA”) and Xbrane Biopharma AB (publ) (“Xbrane”) announced that the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA’s) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion for XIMLUCI®.  XIMLUCI® is a biosimilar candidate referencing LUCENTIS® (ranibizumab), which is an anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial…

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Lupin Announces Approval of ENBREL Biosimilar in Canada

On September 13, 2022, Lupin Ltd. (“Lupin”) announced that its RYMTI product, a biosimilar to ENBREL (etanercept), has been approved in Canada.  Lupin, based in Mumbai, India, specializes in cardiovascular, diabetic, and respiratory disease treatments.  RYMTI is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial…

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Executive Order for Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation Signed by President Biden

On September 12, 2022, President Biden signed the Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy. The objective of the Executive Order is to “coordinate a whole-of-government approach to advance biotechnology and biomanufacturing towards innovative solutions in health, climate change, energy, food…

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Formycon Announces Details for Pembrolizumab Biosimilar

This week Formycon AG (“Formycon”) announced details of its previously undisclosed pipeline project for FYB206, Formycon’s biosimilar of KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab). KEYTRUDA is approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma, lung and other types of carcinoma. According to the press release, Formycon fully owns the development and commercialization rights for FYB206,…

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European Regulatory Heads Make Biosimilars Interchangeable

On September 19, 2022, the European Medicines Agency’s (“EMA”) Biosimilar Medicines Working Party (“BMWP”) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (“HMA”), a network of the heads of the authorities responsible for the regulation of medicinal products for human use in the European Economic Area, issued a Joint Statement confirming that…

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Genentech and Samsung Bioepis Settle Bevacizumab Biosimilar Patent Dispute

As we previously reported, on June 28, 2020, Genentech, Inc. (“Genentech”) filed a complaint against Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. (“Samsung”) in the District of Delaware, alleging infringement of fourteen patents under the BPCIA based on Samsung’s submission of an aBLA for SB8, a proposed biosimilar of AVASTIN (bevacizumab). On September 7, 2022, Genentech and Samsung filed…

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