Teva, Samsung Bioepis to Co-Develop Up to 6 Biosimilars

Teva Pharmaceutical and Samsung Bioepis have signed an agreement to jointly develop and sell up to 6 biosimilars.

According to Fierce Pharma on the 2nd (local time), the companies announced an expanded agreement this week to develop and commercialize up to 6 biosimilar candidates. Two of them reference AstraZeneca’s immunology drug Fasenra and Novartis’ Ilaris.

Ilaris is approved for periodic fever syndromes and Still disease, among other conditions. Under the agreement, Samsung Bioepis will handle development, regulatory work and manufacturing, while Teva will oversee global sales, including in the United States, Europe and Canada.

The companies also agreed to options to expand the partnership into other regions. They did not disclose the other biosimilar targets or the financial terms of the agreement.

In January last year, Teva signed an agreement with Samsung Bioepis to sell Epysqli, a biosimilar to AstraZeneca’s Soliris, in the United States. This summer, it signed a Canadian rights agreement for the Eylea biosimilar Opuviz.

Richard Francis, Teva’s CEO, said, “Biosimilars are becoming an increasingly important part of our growth strategy,” adding, “This global, multiproduct agreement is an important step in expanding our biosimilars business.”

According to Fierce Pharma, the agreement comes as patents on several blockbuster drugs are nearing expiration. Samsung Bioepis also signed an agreement with Sandoz in March to jointly develop up to 5 biosimilars.