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.

Coherus and Junshi Biosciences Announce FDA Acceptance of Toripalimab BLA

Last week, Coherus and Junshi Biosciences announced that the FDA accepted their BLA for toripalimab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (“NPC”) and toripalimab monotherapy for the second-line or above treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC after…

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Ranibizumab Updates: FDA approval of Roche’s Refillable Ocular Implant and FDA Acceptance of Bioeq’s BQ201 BLA

On October 22, 2021 Roche announced the FDA’s approval of its ranibizumab intravitreal injection, marketed as Susvimo.  Susvimo is a refillable ocular implant—requiring refills every six months—that continuously delivers medicine into the eye for the treatment of neovascular or wet age-related macular degeneration, a condition that can cause rapid and…

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Celltrion Seeks EMA Approval for Avastin Biosimilar

The Korea Herald has reported that Celltrion Inc., a South Korean biopharmaceutical firm, is seeking approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the sale of CT-P16, Celltrion’s anticancer biosimilar candidate.  CT-P16 references Avastin (Bevacizumab), which is indicated for the treatment of various types of cancers, including colorectal, lung, and kidney…

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FDA Approvals and Applications Update

On October 22, 2021, the FDA approved Genentech’s SUSVIMO (ranibizumab injection) for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) based on positive results from an open-label Phase III study. According to the Genentech press release, SUSVIMO, previously called Port Delivery System with ranibizumab, offers an alternative route of administration for anti-VEGF in…

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Alvotech’s E.D. Va. Declaratory Judgment Action Against AbbVie Transferred to N.D. Ill.

On Friday, October 22, 2021, Judge Raymond A. Jackson of the Eastern District of Virginia (E.D. Va.) transferred Alvotech USA and Alvotech hf.’s (jointly, “Alvotech”) declaratory judgment suit against AbbVie Inc. and AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd. (jointly, “AbbVie”) to the Northern District of Illinois (N.D. Ill.) and dismissed AbbVie’s pending motion…

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Deal news: Bio-Thera Solutions and Intract Pharma

Bio-Thera Solutions and Intract Pharma announced at the end of last month that they had entered into a global collaboration and licensing agreement that gives Bio-Thera access to two oral delivery technologies for monoclonal antibodies to develop treatments for chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases.  According to Intract’s press release, “Intract has…

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Coherus and Xbrane Announce Acceptance of Regulatory Submissions for Ranibizumab Biosimilars

On October 1, 2021, Coherus BioSciences announced that FDA has accepted for review Coherus’ BLA for CHS-201, a candidate biosimilar to Lucentis® (ranibizumab), which is indicated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and several other ophthalmic conditions. The BLA was originally submitted by Coherus’ partner, BioeqAG.  On October 4, 2021,…

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Bevacizumab Biosimilar Demonstrates Positive Phase 3 Results for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

A study recently published in Cancer Communications reported that LY01008 or BOYOUNUO, a bevacizumab biosimilar developed by Shandong Boan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Shandong Boan”), a subsidiary of Luye Pharma Group Ltd. (“Luye Pharma”), demonstrated comparable safety, efficacy, immunogenicity, and pharmacokinetic profiles to the reference product AVASTIN in patients with advanced…

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