Merck and Samsung Bioepis Co. have entered an agreement to develop and commercialize multiple undisclosed biosimilar candidates. Samsung Bioepis will be responsible for preclinical and clinical development, process development and manufacturing, clinical trials and registration. Merck will be responsible for commercialization. Samsung Bioepis will receive an upfront payment, product supply income, and will be eligible to receive clinical and regulatory milestones. Financial terms were not disclosed.
 
“The combination of Merck’s global commercial presence with Samsung Bioepis’ biologic development and manufacturing capabilities positions the two companies well to increase access to biosimilars to improve human health,” said Rich Murray, Ph.D., senior vice president, biologics and vaccines research, Merck Research Laboratories. “We look forward to this collaboration and its potential to complement our expanding internal biologics portfolio.”
 
“Samsung Bioepis has been building the capabilities needed to develop high-quality biosimilars,” said Christopher Hansung Ko, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Samsung Bioepis. “With this development and commercialization agreement, Samsung takes a significant step toward becoming a major player in the biopharmaceutical industry.”