Welcome to the Big Molecule Watch!

ENGLISH | 中文

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.

Court Denies TRO/PI in Genentech v. Amgen; Amgen Announces Launch

As we previously reported, on July 10, 2019, Genentech filed  motions for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Amgen in the Genentech v. Amgen BPCIA litigation related to Amgen’s trastuzumab biosimilar KANJINTI™ (trastuzumab-anns).  Yesterday, the District Court denied Genentech’s motions and lifted the standstill order given during the…

Read More

Judge Vacates Federal Regulation Mandating Disclosure of Drug Prices in TV Advertisements

In May, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) finalized a new regulation requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose the list price of a drug in any television advertisements.  This regulation, titled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Regulation To Require Drug Pricing Transparency” (also known as the Wholesale Acquisition Cost,…

Read More

Genentech Moves for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction Against Amgen

Last night, Genentech filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and a motion for a preliminary injunction against Amgen in the Genentech v. Amgen BPCIA litigation related to Amgen’s trastuzumab biosimilar KANJINTI (trastuzumab-anns).  Genentech’s motion papers were filed under seal, and Amgen’s responsive papers on the preliminary injunction motion…

Read More

Biosimilar and Follow-On Biologic Development Updates

Below are some highlights of recent news in biosimilar and follow-on biologic development: Prestige BioPharma On July 2, Prestige BioPharma (Prestige) licensed the rights to Tuznue, its trastuzumab biosimilar of Roche’s Herceptin, to Mundipharma in selected European markets. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recently accepted a Marketing Authorisation Application for…

Read More

Samsung Bioepis and Genentech Settle Trastuzumab Biosimilar Patent Disputes

On June 28, 2019, Samsung Bioepis and Genentech filed a joint stipulation of dismissal of their BPCIA patent litigation concerning ONTRUZANT (trastuzumab-dttb), Samsung Bioepis’s biosimilar of HERCEPTIN that received FDA-approval earlier this year.  According to the stipulation, the parties “have entered into a settlement agreement, and mutually agree to voluntarily dismiss…

Read More

AbbVie to Acquire Allergan for $63B

U.S.-based AbbVie, Inc. has reached a deal to acquire Irish pharmaceutical company Allergan PLC for about $63 billion, according to an AbbVie press release from Tuesday.  The “definitive transaction agreement” includes both cash and stock.  According to the press release, it is expected that, immediately after the closing of the…

Read More