Samsung Bioepis has partnered with global pharmaceutical company Teva Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize two biosimilar candidates targeting immune-related diseases across the U.S., Europe, and Canada.
Samsung Bioepis announced that it signed a partnership agreement with Teva for the development and commercialization of SB41 and SB44.
SB41 is a biosimilar candidate referencing AstraZeneca’s Fasenra (benralizumab), while SB44 references Novartis’ Ilaris (canakinumab).
Fasenra is an antibody medicine used to treat severe eosinophilic asthma and other conditions. Ilaris targets interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a protein involved in inflammatory responses, and is used to treat rare autoinflammatory diseases.
Under the agreement, Samsung Bioepis will be responsible for the development, regulatory approvals, and manufacturing of the two candidates. Teva will handle commercialization in the U.S., Europe, and Canada. Financial terms and other specific details of the agreement were not disclosed.
The companies also agreed on options to expand the partnership into additional markets and future biosimilar development. According to Teva, the collaboration could eventually include up to four additional biosimilar candidates.
This is not the first collaboration between Samsung Bioepis and Teva. The companies launched Epysqli, a treatment for rare diseases, in the U.S. last year. In July, they also entered into a partnership for Teva Canada to commercialize Opuviz, an ophthalmology biosimilar in Canada. Under that arrangement, Samsung Bioepis is responsible for regulatory approval and manufacturing, while Teva Canada handles local commercialization.
Kim Kyung-ah, president and CEO of Samsung Bioepis, said the companies decided to expand their collaboration based on the results of their existing partnership, adding that Samsung Bioepis plans to continue expanding access to biosimilars for patients and healthcare systems worldwide.