Samsung Bio secures drug substance manufacturing deal with Pfizer
The Korean contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) revealed its tie-up with the pharma giant in a regulatory filing.
The contract is worth 241 billion won (US$183m) and it is set to run through 2029, as per the data in the filing.
A spokesperson for Pfizer told us it was not disclosing any further details about the alliance beyond saying the two entities had entered into an agreement whereby Samsung Bio will manufacture a drug substance at its Incheon, Korea facility.
“Pfizer understands the importance of supply continuity to patients and will continue to prioritize patient safety and product quality at every step in the manufacturing and supply chain process,” added the representative.
Samsung Bio said it would not be commenting further.
The deal adds to the various partnerships with large pharma players that the Asian CDMO has secured over the past few years. In autumn last year, again through a regulatory filing, Samsung Bio announced it had inked a second manufacturing contract with GSK, valued then at US$296m and set to run for 10 years.
ADC strategy
The 2023 JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in January saw Samsung Bio’s CEO, John Rim, outline how the company would continue expansions in capacity, geography, and portfolio this year.
“Looking ahead in 2023, we expect the positive business momentum to continue, with the completion and full operation of Plant 4 and construction of our next facility at Bio Campus II. We will also seek to further expand our portfolio by investing in new modalities to diversify our service offerings.”
He shared the organization’s plan to expand into new business areas including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and cell and gene therapy (CGT).
Samsung Bio is planning to build an ADC manufacturing suite in Plant 4, starting production in Q1 2024. It will also commence construction activities at Bio Campus II on the land it purchased for 426 billion won (US$353m) in 2022, while continuing to invest in promising biotech companies through the Life Science Fund created with Samsung C&T, he confirmed.
The CDMO also intends to solidify its foothold in the global market, beyond its San Francisco R&D Center, and to open new sales offices in Boston and New Jersey, where major pharma companies are located.
