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.

District Court Denies Apotex’s Motion to Dismiss Amgen’s Complaint in Second Lawsuit

Last week, the district court in Amgen v. Apotex (No. 18-61828) (S.D. Fla.) denied Apotex’s motion to dismiss Amgen’s complaint in a follow-on suit concerning Apotex’s pegfilgrastim and filgrastim biosimilar candidates. By way of background, Amgen and Apotex have been involved in multiple patent lawsuits regarding Apotex’s pegfilgrastim and filgrastim biosimilars…

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FDA to Hold Hearing Concerning Insulin Costs

The FDA has announced that it will hold a hearing to discuss affordability of and access to insulin products, including issues concerning the development of biosimilar and interchangeable insulin products.  The hearing will cover scientific standards for evaluating biosimilarity and interchangeability of insulin products; other regulatory considerations, such as whether…

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Phase III study report indicates Celltrion and Pfizer’s infliximab biosimilar is non-inferior to REMICADE in treating Crohn’s disease

According to a recent paper in The Lancet, a new phase 3 study shows that CT-P13, Celltrion and Pfizer’s infliximab biosimilar, is non-inferior to the reference biologic, REMICADE, for the treatment of Crohn’s disease.  CT-P13 was approved by the European Commission under the trade name Remsima® in September 2013, and…

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