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.

Federal Circuit Solicits U.S. Attorney General’s Views on Constitutionality of Subjecting Pre-AIA Patents to Inter Partes Review

Genentech recently submitted two opening appellate briefs to the Federal Circuit in connection with its appeals from the Board’s final written decisions in Hospira’s IPRs, IPR2016-01771 and IPR2016-01837, which found that the challenged claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 7,622,115 and 7,807,799, respectively, were unpatentable in view of the prior art….

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Mylan Files Ten Additional IPR Petitions Challenging Sanofi's Lantus Patents

As we reported here, on June 9, 2017, Mylan filed two IPR petitions challenging Sanofi-Aventis’s U.S. Patent No. 7,476,652 (IPR2017-01528) and U.S. Patent No. 7,713,930 (IPR2017-01526), related to Sanofi’s Lantus® (insulin glargine injection).  Both petitions were instituted on December 13, 2017, as reported here. On September 10, 2018, Mylan filed ten additional…

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Sandoz Stipulates to Infringement of Certain Asserted Claims Prior to Etanercept Biosimilar Trial

As we have previously reported, the Immunex v. Sandoz patent litigation under the BPCIA concerning Sandoz’s Erelzi™ (etanercept-szzs) biosimilar is scheduled to begin trial today before New Jersey District Judge Claire C. Cecchi. Yesterday, prior to the start of trial, the Court entered a stipulation wherein Sandoz stipulated to infringement of…

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Xbrane Shifts Strategic Focus to Biosimilars

Today, September 10, 2018, Xbrane Biopharma announced that it has decided to shift its strategic focus of capital and resources toward biosimilars and away from its pipeline of generic long-acting injectables.  In addition to moving forward with its pivotal clinical trial for Xlucane, its proposed biosimilar of Lucentis® (ranibizumab), Xbrane…

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Biologic and Biosimilar Litigation Updates

Below we provide updates in three pending litigations. First, in an update on the Amgen v. Coherus appeal regarding Coherus’s biosimilar application for pegfilgrastim, Amgen filed its opening brief on August 20. Amgen’s statement of the issues reads: 1. Whether the district court erred in dismissing Amgen’s Complaint, with prejudice, based…

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New BPCIA Complaint: Genentech Sues Samsung Bioepis Regarding Proposed Trastuzumab Biosimilar (UPDATED)

Yesterday, September 4, 2018, Genentech filed a complaint against Samsung Bioepis in the District of Delaware alleging infringement under the BPCIA of 21 patents based on Bioepis’s filing of an aBLA for SB3, a biosimilar candidate referencing Herceptin® (trastuzumab).  This is the fourth litigation regarding a biosimilar of Herceptin®, following…

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Biosimilar and Biologic Development Updates

On Wednesday, Celltrion announced its completion of its Phase 3 clinical trial for Remsima SC, a subcutaneous version of its biosimilar Remsima® (infliximab).  According to Celltrion, “[t]he subcutaneous formulation allows patients to conveniently inject it by themselves according to the administration cycle unlike the intravenous formulation that require patients to…

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Litigation Update:  Sanofi’s Summary Judgment Motion Denied, Immunex Renews Its Motion to Stay Pending IPR in DUPIXENT Patent Litigation

Following up on our previous coverage of Immunex’s patent infringement suit against Sanofi related to Immunex’s Dupixent® (dupilumab) biologic, Judge Otero recently denied Sanofi’s motion for summary judgement of invalidity based on indefiniteness of the claim terms “competes” and “binding affinity (Ka).” Sanofi criticized Immunex’s ’487 patent for failing to…

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Pfizer Submits Citizen Petition to FDA Regarding Communications About Biosimilars

On August 22, 2018, Pfizer submitted a citizen petition to the Food and Drug Administration requesting “guidance clarifying appropriate sponsor communications about the nature and properties of biosimilar products.”  Specifically, Pfizer petitioned FDA to clarify what constitutes a false and misleading communication with respect to the safety and effectiveness of biosimilars relative…

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