Samsung Biologics is expected to provide GSK with additional capacity for large-scale manufacture of biopharmaceutical products

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GlaxoSmithKline head office in London, UK. (Cedit: Ian Wilson/Wikipedia.)

UK-based pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has partnered with Samsung Biologics to expand its capacity to manufacture and supply its advanced biopharmaceutical therapies.

Samsung Biologics is a fully integrated CDMO that offers advanced contract development, manufacturing, and analytical testing services. The company is said to support the development and manufacturing of biologics products at every stage of the process.

GSK pharmaceuticals supply chain president Regis Simard said: “Today’s agreement with Samsung Biologics complements and reinforces our existing world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing capability and will help ensure we can continue to deliver the transformative medicines that patients need.”

The agreement between GSK, Samsung Biologics is valid for the coming eight years

Under the terms of the agreement, Samsung Biologics is expected to provide GSK with additional capacity for large-scale manufacture of biopharmaceutical products.

The additional capacity will be flexible depending on GSK’s future needs and will supplement GSK’s existing manufacturing network.

The agreement, valued more than $231m, is aimed at expanding additional speciality-care products in the future and is applicable for the next eight years.

The agreement initially covers the commercial production of Benlysta (belimumab), where technology transfer is expected to start in 2020 and the first commercial supply is anticipated in 2022.

Samsung Biologics CEO Tae Han Kim said: “We are very proud and excited to announce this long-term agreement with GSK. Samsung Biologics entered the biopharma industry with the goal to help our clients bring valuable biological medicines to patients faster. We are thrilled to partner with GSK, a company who shares the vision.”