Samsung Biologics inks $287mn deal with UCB

[Courtesy of Samsung Biologics Co.]

Samsung Biologics Co., the biotech arm of South Korea’s Samsung Group, has signed a contract manufacturing agreement (CMO) worth 381.9 billion won ($287 million) with UCB, a global pharmaceutical company based in Belgium.

The contract, which is Samsung Biologics’ first order win of this year, expands on a $41.65 million contract signed with UCB in 2017.

UCB is a global pharmaceutical company holding five treatments for epilepsy, including the blockbuster therapy Bim.

The partnership with Samsung Biologics has been ongoing for seven years since the CMO agreement was signed in 2017.

Samsung Biologics’ ability to secure a long-term partnership with UCB is attributed to its status as the world’s largest contract manufacturer, coupled with its capabilities to deliver stable and high-quality products.

In June 2023, the company began full operation of its fourth plant with a capacity of 240,000 liters, the world’s largest single plant. With the four plants in operation, Samsung Biologics’ total production capacity has expanded to 604,000 liters.

The success rate for batch production reached 99 percent last year, demonstrating the company’s commitment to maintaining high standards of quality throughout the manufacturing process.

Samsung Biologics has secured 268 regulatory approvals as of the end of February, affirming its excellent capabilities in pharmaceutical manufacturing and management.