Samsung makes move into novel drugs market

Samsung’s biopharmaceutical arm Samsung Bioepis has agreed a deal with Takeda to tackle “unmet disease areas”, marking the South Korean company’s move into the novel drugs market.

Following the decision, announced yesterday, Japan-based Takeda and Samsung will immediately begin working on their first goal of developing a treatment for acute pancreatitis.

Christopher Hansung Ko, president and CEO of Samsung Bioepis, said Takeda’s extensive knowledge and expertise in drug development makes it an ideal partner to mark the start of a “new chapter”.

“We entered the biopharmaceutical industry with a strong determination to transform the way therapies are brought to patients by replacing legacy processes with new and innovative ones.

“Together with Takeda, we look forward to realising this goal vision by accelerating the development of effective therapies for patients who are currently without a viable treatment option,” he said.

Launched in 2012, Samsung Bioepis has so far only produced biosimilars. Last year, it became the first company to launch a biosimilar of Amgen’s rheumatoid arthritis drug Enbrel (etanercept).

According to Reuters, Samsung will seek partnerships with other drug makers and aims to become an original drug producer that can conduct all phases of novel biologics development within a decade.

Daniel Curran, head, center for external innovation at Takeda, said the company is collaborating with partners who have “complementary expertise”.

“This collaboration with Samsung Bioepis does that. By combining our unique capabilities in development and manufacturing along with fresh and innovative clinical approaches, we will maximise the potential for successful introduction of important medicines to patients.”

Additional terms of the deal have not been disclosed.