Samsung BioLogics is both a contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), and in collaboration with Biogen, a major presence in the biosimilars development space.
Samsung Bioepis – a joint venture launched between Samsung and Biogen in 2012 – has developed a number of biosimilars for various markets. In Europe, for example, marketing authorisation holder Biogen has commercialised the joint venture’s biosimilar versions of J&J’s Remicade (infliximab) and Amgen’s Enbrel (etanercept) since 2016.
Just last week, Samsung Bioepis launched its third anti-TNF monoclonal antibody, Imraldi – a biosimilar version of AbbVie’s blockbuster Humira (adalimumab) – in Europe.
However, according to CEO TH Kim, Samsung BioLogics will eventually expand its development focus beyond the biosimilars market.
“We would like to become a leading biopharma company today, in biosimilars only. In the future, in novel biologics, as well as biosimilars,” said Kim at CPhI Worldwide this month.
Samsung Bioepis made its first steps in the novel biologics space in August last year, via a jointly funded collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. However, Samsung BioLogics is also open to new opportunities in this space – whether through a collaboration or solo venture, Kim told us.
“In addition to [the Takeda collaboration], we are looking for many partners, from global biopharma companies. Also, we think about our standalone discovery and development opportunities in novel biologics as well,” we were told.
“We can [also] think about new joint ventures…for new business fields,” he added.
