Samsung Biologics has entered into an agreement with biotech Dinona, further expanding its capabilities to provide a full scope of development services from cell line development, process development, to non-clinical and clinical material manufacturing. The companies will collaborate for fast-track development of DNP-019, a potential COVID-19 antibody therapy.

Samsung’s contract development business has been growing with close to 60 contracts signed in just two years. The business segment continues to expand its market reach through various biologics products beyond monoclonal antibodies and by targeting diverse treatment areas including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and as with this partnership, COVID-19 treatment.

Samsung Biologics has also recently introduced its cell-line technology, S-CHOice, this year showing improved titers up to two-fold from the industry average and maintaining over 90% cell viability. With a customized development strategy, the company has dramatically reduced the time required for the development stage, taking six months to clinical material manufacturing and seven months to DP release, according to the company.

“Samsung Biologics is always committed to providing the highest quality services to our clients globally to help biotech companies like Dinona focus on their core business, which is drug discovery,” said Tae Han Kim, CEO Samsung Biologics. “As with all our partnerships, we will closely collaborate with our client Dinona to provide the highest client satisfaction and support in its endeavor to bring a potential COVID-19 treatment to market faster and better.”