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.

Genentech Files Patent Infringement Complaint Against Lilly Regarding Lilly’s Taltz® Product

Last week, Genentech Inc. filed a complaint against Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 10,011,654 (’654 patent) based on Eli Lilly’s commercial manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale and/or importation of Taltz® (ixekizumab) in…

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Biocon Biosimilars Facility Receives EU GMP Certification

Last week Biocon announced that it has received EU GMP certification for its biosimilars facility in Bangalore, after an inspection by European agencies this past March. Biocon’s Bangalore biosimilar facilities were also inspected earlier this year by the FDA, and last month Biocon announced the FDA issued an Establishment Inspection Report stating “that the inspection stands…

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FDA Releases Guidance for Industry Regarding Implementation of Biosimilar User Fee Amendments of 2017

The FDA recently announced the availability of a final guidance for industry titled “Assessing User Fees Under the Biosimilar User Fee Amendments of 2017.”   This guidance concerns the implementation of BsUFA II, which as we previously reported, extends FDA’s authority to collect user fees from fiscal year (FY) 2018 to…

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Biosimilars Update: Clinical Trials, Marketing Authorization Applications, Licenses, and Launches

Today, we’re catching up with news from around the industry. Amgen recently announced top-line results from a Phase 3 study evaluating its infliximab biosimilar candidate, ABP 710.  According to the announcement, the study, a randomized, double-blind trial of 558 patients over 22 weeks, demonstrated the non-inferiority of ABP 710 to…

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Senators Ask FTC To Examine Biosimilar Patent Settlements For Antitrust Violations

United States Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) recently sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Joseph Simons urging the “FTC to examine global patent settlements relating to biosimilars to ensure they are not in violation of antitrust laws.”  According to the Senators, “biologics constitute a…

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Judge Sets Trial Date in Janssen v. Celltrion Should Summary Judgment Be Denied

As we reported here, in the patent dispute between Janssen and Defendants Celltrion and Hospira relating to Inflectra® (infliximab-dyyb), a biosimilar of Remicade®, there are multiple motions for summary judgment pending before Judge Wolf in the District of Massachusetts. Both parties have filed competing summary judgment motions directed to damages issues. Additionally, Defendants have filed a motion…

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