Samsung Bioepis is a JV between Samsung Biologics and Biogen which develops biosimilars for multiple markets.
The firm contracts production of its biosimilars to a number of suppliers, including Biogen which makes them at its facility in Hillerød, Denmark.
These contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs) have been joined by Samsung Biologics according to a Bioepis spokesperson who confirmed a report circulating on a Korean newswire this morning (in Korean).
The spokesman told Biopharma-Reporter.com that Bioepis had indeed signed a deal with its Korean affiliate. He declined to comment on not the timing, scope or financials of the agreement and would not disclose details of the biosimilar product involved.
Samsung Biologics has a large commercial biomanufacturing site in Songdo, Korea and recently announced it was investing $740m there to add 180,000L of capacity.
When the plant comes on line - expected in late 2018 – the site will become the largest bioproduction site in the world boasting 360,000L of bioreactor capacity.
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Roche are among the CMO’s other clients.
Last week Samsung Biologics announced it was looking to launch an IPO on the KOSPI (Korea Composite Stock price Index).
Meanwhile last July, Samsung Bioepis itself signalled its intention to go public, albeit in the US, though the firm says it is still assessing market conditions.