In October, we reported on a growing number of IPR challenges to Genentech’s U.S. Patent No. 6,407,213 (“the ʼ213 patent”) to Carter. The ’213 patent, “Method for making humanized antibodies,” which Genentech has stated in SEC filings covers technology used in developing the breast cancer drug Herceptin® (trastuzumab), has since been asserted or is otherwise

On November 6, 2017, Sandoz, Inc. filed its eighth inter partes review (“IPR”) against AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd. (“AbbVie”), challenging yet another patent from the Humira® patent portfolio. Humira®, used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease, continues to be the number one selling drug in the world.[i] With

Samsung Bioepis (“Bioepis”) has joined a growing list of challengers to Genentech’s U.S. Patent No. 6,407,213 (“the ʼ213 patent”) issued to Carter, et al. by filing two new petitions for inter partes review (“IPR”).  The ʼ213 patent, entitled “Method for Making Humanized Antibodies,” is generally directed to antibodies with humanized variable domains comprising non-human complementarity

On July 24, 2017, Samsung Bioepis and Merck & Co., Inc. announced the launch of Renflexis® (infliximab-abda) in the United States.  According to Merck’s press release, Renflexis® “will be introduced in the U.S. [at] . . . a 35 percent discount to the current list price” of the reference product.  Renflexis® is the second FDA-approved

On June 22, 2017, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (“CHMP”) of the European Medicine’s Agency (“EMA”) recommended Samsung Bioepis’ Imraldi® (SB-5, adalimumab), a biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira®, for approval.  The CHMP’s recommendation will be referred to the European Commission for final marketing authorization.

Adalimumab is a TNF (tumor necrosis factor) inhibitor

Earlier this month, Janssen Biotech, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson,   (“Janssen” or “Plaintiff”) filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. (“Samsung Bioepis” or “Defendant”),  a joint venture between Samsung Biologics and Biogen.  The patent infringement litigation relates to Samsung Bioepis’s

FDA approved Samsung Bioepis’s Renflexis® (SB2, infliximab-abda) on Friday, April 21, 2017.  Renflexis® is the fifth biosimilar approved by the FDA and the second infliximab biosimilar to Janssen’s Remicade®.  Infliximab is an Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor (Anti-TNF) monoclonal antibody approved in the U.S. for treating rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and

Samsung Bioepsis UK Limited (“Samsung”), Biogen Idec Limited (“Biogen”), and Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologic Company Limited (“Fujifilm Biologics”) have prevailed against two of AbbVie’s patents for Humira® in the UK.

On March 3, 2017, Justice Henry Carr of the UK High Court of Justice issued a decision declaring that administration of 40mg of adalimumab once