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.

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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Coherus Announces FDA Approval of YUSIMRY (adalimumab-aqvh)

Today, Coherus BioSciences, Inc. announced that the FDA approved YUSIMRY (adalimumab-aqvh), a biosimilar of AbbVie’s HUMIRA product.  YUSIMRY is indicated for plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.  According to the press release, Coherus plans to launch YUSIMRY in the U.S….

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Samsung Bioepis Clinical Trial Updates

On December 8, Samsung Bioepis announced that it had presented the longest follow-up study results for a trastuzumab biosimilar in patients with HER2-positive early or locally advanced breast cancer.  The five-year study compared long-term survival rates of patients on SB3 (ONTRUZANT®, Samsung Bioepis’ biosimilar of Herceptin®) and Herceptin® (trastuzumab) from…

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