South Korea-based Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) have agreed to a global license, development, and commercialization agreement covering up to six biosimilar candidates.
Two programs have been disclosed: SB41, a proposed biosimilar referencing benralizumab (Fasenra; AstraZeneca), and SB44, a proposed biosimilar referencing canakinumab (Ilaris; Novartis). The agreement also includes options on four additional unnamed candidates. Neither SB41 nor SB44 was assigned a development stage in the announcement, and no clinical data were disclosed.
Samsung will be responsible for development, regulatory registration, and manufacturing, while Teva will handle commercialization in the US, Europe, and Canada, with an option to expand into additional territories. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The agreement builds on an existing partnership between the companies that has already led to commercialization of EPYSQLI (eculizumab-aagh) in the US. The companies have also expanded that earlier collaboration to include OPUVIZ (aflibercept) in Canada.