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.

Big Conversations: In-House Counsel Discuss the Past, Present, and Future of Biosimilars Market Entry In the EU and U.S. (Part 4)

In a continuation from Part 3 of this panel discussion, Goodwin and Bristows continue their discussion with senior in-house counsel at the forefront of the biosimilars industry to discuss the pace of biosimilars market entry in the EU and U.S., why the pace of biosimilars market entry has been different…

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FDA Approves Sandoz's Biosimilar Pegfilgrastim

As we have previously reported on Sandoz’s Biologics License Application (“BLA”) for its proposed biosimilar to Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim), Sandoz received a complete response letter from FDA, and had resubmitted its application after reportedly addressing the issues identified by FDA.  Yesterday, the FDA approved Sandoz’s application.  The biosimilar, named ZIEXTENZO, is an injectable formulation of pegfilgrastim-bmez, with…

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Pfizer Announces U.S. Launch Dates for Three Biosimilars

Earlier this week, during its 3Q 2019 earnings call, Pfizer announced the U.S. launch dates for three of its biosimilar products: ZIRABEV (bevacizumab-bvzr), a biosimilar of Genentech’s AVASTIN, which received approval in June, will launch December 31, 2019.  We previously posted that on September 20, 2019, Genentech and Pfizer settled…

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Researchers Publish Results Of Biosimilar-Switching Studies

In 2017, the Health Department of Brazil’s Federal District ordered that patients currently prescribed Remicade (infliximab) be switched over to the biosimilar, Remsima.  Earlier this month, researchers in Brazil published a one-year follow-up study of patients who underwent the switch.  They reported that, “[l]ike previous European studies, [their] results suggest…

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New Phase I Clinical Trials for Two Proposed Ustekinumab Biosimilars

gloved hand withdraws drug solution with syringe

Over the last two weeks, NeuClone and Formycon announced updates regarding their respective ustekinumab biosimilars (reference product, Stelara). On October 17, 2019, NeuClone announced that it has launched a Phase I clinical trial of its ustekinumab product, NeuLara.  NeuClone stated that the Phase I clinical trial is a “single-dose, double-blind, randomised,…

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WHO and IGBA Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) to promote access to generics and biosimilars.  According to the WHO press release, the memorandum underscores “the importance of generic and biosimilar medicines to increasing access…

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Briefing completed in trastuzumab IPR appeals

On October 15, 2019, Genentech filed reply briefs in support of its Federal Circuit appeals from the PTAB’s final written decisions of unpatentability of the challenged claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 7,846,441 and 7,892,549, which are directed to methods of treating HER2+ cancer with trastuzumab (Cases Nos. 19-1263, 19-1265, 19-1267…

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