On November 17, 2023, Genentech, Hoffman-La Roche, and Biogen (collectively “plaintiffs”) filed a complaint in the federal district court for the District of New Jersey against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Fresenius Kabi (collectively “defendants”) (DNJ No. 23-cv-22485). The plaintiffs allege that the defendants infringe or intend to infringe fifteen patents related to the biologic rituximab
BPCIA Litigation Update: Amgen v. Sandoz in the District of New Jersey
As one BPCIA case came to a close in May[1], another got underway. On May 1, 2023, Amgen filed a complaint in the District of New Jersey, accusing Sandoz of infringing patents that relate to denosumab, the active ingredient in Amgen’s PROLIA and XGEVA. PROLIA is prescribed for a high risk of bone…
Janssen and Amgen Settle Stelara BPCIA Case
On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, Janssen and Amgen settled their case regarding Amgen’s proposed biosimilar to Stelara in Delaware district court.[1]
Stelara, also known as ustekinumab, is an anti-IL-12/IL-23 antibody drug used to treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Amgen has created a biosimilar of Stelara called ABP 654, which…
Legislative Efforts to Remove Impediments to Biosimilar Approvals and Marketing
Biosimilars are becoming increasingly important in healthcare as they offer a lower-cost alternative to biologic drugs, which can be expensive for patients, governments, and insurers. These biologic medicines, which are highly similar to existing biological products and are designed to be as effective and safe as the brand name drugs, offer the potential to provide…
Declaratory Judgment Jurisdiction Over Skinny Label Applications: In re: Entresto (Sacubitril/Valsartan) Patent Litigation
On September 27, 2022, Judge Richard Andrews of the District of Delaware granted Novartis’s motion to dismiss declaratory judgment (“DJ”) counterclaims raised by two generic drug manufacturers in the ongoing litigation regarding Novartis’s heart failure medication, Entresto® (sacubitril/valsartan).[1] The decision provides guidance to ANDA applicants seeking to maintain a case or controversy for DJ…
Tysabri® (natalizumab) Litigation Begins
On September 9, 2022, Biogen Inc. and Biogen MA Inc. (“Plaintiffs”) filed suit against Sandoz Inc., Sandoz International GMBH, Sandoz GMBH, and Polpharma Biologics S.A. (collectively, “Defendants”) in the District of Delaware concerning twenty-eight different patents. Although the complaint was filed under seal, the complaint appears to be related to Defendants’ natalizumab biosimilar (proprietary name…
How the U.S. Compares to Europe on Biosimilar Approvals and Products In the Pipeline Updated March 14, 2022
- FDA and EMA both approve additional biosimilar versions of Humira® (adalimumab).
- FDA also approves its third biosimilar version of Neupogen® (filgrastim).
- EMA has not approved any new biosimilars in 2022, but has recommended approval of teriparatide biosimilar Sondelbay and the pegfilgrastim biosimilar Stimufend.
As pharmaceutical drug costs attract increasing media attention and political scrutiny, a…
How the U.S. Compares to Europe on Biosimilar Approvals and Products In the Pipeline
Updated November 15, 2021
- FDA and EMA both approve first biosimilar version of Lucentis® (ranbizumab).
- FDA has approved only two biosimilars in 2021 after only approving three in 2020.
- EMA approves four more Avastin® (bevacizumab) biosimilars, bringing the total number of approved bevacizumab approvals to nine, but also withdraws approval of two of bevacizumab and
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Takeaways from FDA’s Approval of the First Interchangeable Biosimilar for Humira®
On October 15, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cyltezo® (adalimumab-adbm), the first interchangeable biosimilar to AbbVie’s blockbuster immunosuppressant Humira® (adalimumab). We previously discussed Boehringer Ingelheim’s Citizen Petition requesting a change in the FDA’s interpretation of “strength” of biological products under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (“BPCIA”). The…
Changes to the Purple Book: Progress in Transparency
The recently enacted “Purple Book Continuity Act of 2019” went into effect as of June 25, 2021. The FDA must proactively update the Purple Book information every 30 days with an alphabetical list of licensed biologics, including the date of marketing application approval and the marketing/licensure status. Additionally, there is now a potentially higher price…