Bristol-Myers Squibb and Samsung BioLogics Increase The Scope Of Manufacturing Agreement
By Cyndi Root
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Samsung BioLogics announced in a press release that they will expand their manufacturing agreement. The two companies began their alliance in July of 2013 with an agreement to manufacture Bristol-Myers’ antibody cancer drug. The newly expanded agreement covers several medicines to be manufactured at Samsung’s manufacturing site in Incheon, South Korea. Financial details of the new agreement were not disclosed. Lou Schmukler, president of Global Manufacturing and Supply at Bristol-Meyers said, "Biologic medicines that treat serious diseases are an integral part of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s specialty care portfolio and R&D pipeline. The expanded relationship with Samsung will increase our biologics manufacturing capability and give us the flexibility to respond to increased demand in order to meet the global needs of patients."
Samsung BioLogics
Samsung BioLogics is a Samsung Electronics company. It manufactures drug and biological products for the pharmaceutical industry.. It also provides consulting services and collaboration in drug development.
Samsung is building another facility in Incheon, expected to be complete in 2015. Dr. TH Kim, president and CEO of Samsung BioLogics said, "Samsung is delighted to reach the second manufacturing agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb and we look forward to delivering top quality GMP production.”
Strategic Partnerships
Samsung has other partnerships with leading drug companies. Announced in a press release recently, Samsung entered a long-term strategic partnership with Roche to manufacture medicine in South Korea. The companies said they would not disclose the products to be manufactured or the financial terms.
Samsung BioLogics and Biogen Idec began a joint venture in 2012 to develop, manufacture, and market biosimilars. The joint venture, called Samsung Bioepis, is located at Samsung Biologics’ site in Incheon. In January 2014, Bioepsis entered into an agreement with Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, to manufacture and commercialize MK-1293, an insulin glargine candidate for the treatment of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.