This week, Samsung, the parent company of Samsung BioLogics and biosimilar development company Samsung Bioepis, announced plans to invest $22 billion across business lines, including biopharmaceuticals.
This week, Samsung, the parent company of Samsung BioLogics and biosimilar development company Samsung Bioepis, announced plans to invest $22 billion across business lines including biopharmaceuticals.
“For biopharmaceuticals, Samsung has seen strong growth from both its contract manufacturing and biosimilar businesses. It will continue to invest heavily in the businesses, including developing and manufacturing biosimilars to combat chronic and difficult-to-cure diseases,” read the statement.
Samsung has already taken an active role to further invest in its biosimilar business with the creation of a new manufacturing plant in Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea, its third in this location. With the completion of this plant, the company will have the total production capacity of 362,000 liters and will have invested $2.6 billion (3 trillion won), in manufacturing capabilities. Commercial production is expected to begin at this plant in 2020.
Click here to read more about Samsung Bioepis.
Though the production capabilities of the company have increased, last month, Samsung BioLogics reported earnings that included a net loss of $8.53 million (9.6 billion won) in the second quarter. It also reported that the operating profit of the company increased by $1.2 million (13.7 billion won) from the quarter prior and showed improvement in its net loss, as sales had improved from its Samsung Bioepis subsidiary, a joint venture with Biogen.
Accounting practices at Samsung BioLogics were recently called into question, however, when South Korea’s financial regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), found that Samsung BioLogics had not disclosed that Biogen had the option to increase its stake in the joint venture with Samsung Bioepis to 49.9%.
“The SFC concluded that Samsung BioLogics had violated accounting standards by intentionally omitting information regarding it joint venture agreement with Biogen in its public disclosure,” read the announcement from the SFC.
The agency has mandated sanctions against Samsung BioLogics including a request for dismissal of executives in charge, designation of external auditors for the next 3 years, and referral to prosecutors. Additionally, the company’s current auditor would be barred from auditing the company for 4 years and would also be referred to prosecutors for violation of auditing standards.
Just last month, the FDA granted Samsung BioLogics approval for its first completed monoclonal antibody at the first of its 3 plants. The product nor the client it was manufactured for were disclosed.
Partnering for Biosimilar Security: India's Role in US Health Care Savings, Supply Chain Stability
May 9th 2024As Indian pharmaceutical companies supplied 4 of every 10 prescriptions in the US in 2022, generating $1.3 trillion in health care savings, a new IQVIA report highlights concerns about supply chain risks and advocates for partnerships to bolster biosimilar security and overall supply chain resilience.
Exploring the Biosimilar Horizon: Julie Reed's Predictions for 2024
February 18th 2024On this episode of Not So Different, Julie Reed, executive director of the Biosimilars Forum, returns to discuss her predictions for the biosimilar industry for 2024 and beyond as well as the impact that the Forum's 4 new members will have on the organization's mission.
A New Chapter: How 2023 Will Shape the US Biosimilar Space for 2024 and Beyond
December 31st 2023On this episode of Not So Different, Cencora's Brian Biehn and Corey Ford take a look back at major policy and regulatory advancements in 2023 and how these changes will alter the space going forward.
Eye on Pharma: EU Ustekinumab Approval; New Golimumab Data; Evernorth Adds Humira Biosimilar
April 29th 2024The European Union gained a new ustekinumab biosimilar; Alvotech released positive results from a clinical trial evaluating a golimumab biosimilar and the reference products (Simponi and Simponi Aria), and Evernorth announced that it is set to cover an adalimumab biosimilar at zero cost to patients.