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.

Genentech Seeks to Dismiss and Strike Amgen's Counterclaims and Certain Defenses in Bevacizumab Biosimilar Litigation

As we previously reported, on May 22, 2018 in Genentech v. Amgen, which concerns Amgen’s Mvasi® (bevacizumab-awwb) biosimilar, Genentech filed a motion to dismiss and to strike Amgen’s counterclaims and certain affirmative defenses.  On June 19, 2018, after Amgen filed under seal an amended answer and counterclaim, Genentech filed updated…

Read More

FDA Withdraws Draft Guidance Regarding Statistical Approaches to Evaluate Analytical Similarity of Biosimilars

As we previously reported, in September 2017 FDA issued draft guidance entitled Statistical Approaches to Evaluate Analytical Similarity that “describes the type[s] of information a sponsor of a proposed biosimilar product should obtain” to support a showing of analytical similarity to a licensed reference product biologic.  Today, FDA withdrew this draft guidance….

Read More

Vermont and Connecticut Enact Interchangeable Biosimilar Substitution Bills

Last month we reported that Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Alaska were in the process of considering biosimilar substitution bills.  Vermont and Connecticut recently enacted their respective bills. On May 30, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed bill S.92 into law as Act No. 193.  The Act directs pharmacists to dispense…

Read More

Updates On Discovery Rulings in AbbVie v. BI Adalimumab Litigation

We have recently reported on multiple discovery rulings in the ongoing AbbVie v. Boehringer Ingelheim litigation concerning Boehringer Ingelheims’s (“BI’s”) aBLA for Cyltezo™ (adalimumab-adbm), a biosimilar version of AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab) product.  On June 14, 2018, Magistrate Judge Lloret issued two additional opinions regarding discovery in the case. In the first opinion, the Court granted-in-part…

Read More

Lupin and Nichi-Iko Collaborate to Market Etanercept Biosimilar in Japan

As we reported last month, YL Biologics (a joint venture between Lupin’s subsidiary Kyowa and Yoshindo) recently submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for Marketing Authorization of Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) for YLB113, a proposed biosimilar of Enbrel® (etanercept). Yesterday, Lupin and Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical announced that they…

Read More

IPR Updates: Trastuzumab, Rituximab, Abatacept

Below are a few recent updates in IPR proceedings concerning biologic-related patents: Today, the Board denied Samsung Bioepis’ petition for IPR of Genentech’s U.S. Patent No. 7,846,441 (IPR2017-00192), directed to cancer treatment methods using trastuzumab.  In its decision, the Board explained that it was exercising its discretion to deny the petition in…

Read More

Celltrion Healthcare Presents Research Demonstrating Positive Results for Use of Biosimilar Infliximab in Treatment of Crohn’s Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Celltrion Healthcare recently presented research from two studies conducted on its CT-P13 subcutaneous (SC) formulation (biosimilar infliximab) demonstrating positive results for the use of CT-P13 SC in the treatment of active Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.  According to Celltrion, the data from each study shows the efficacy and safety of…

Read More