Samsung Biologics, a global CDMO, will continue its biopharmaceutical manufacturing collaboration with AstraZeneca, the company has announced. The partnership is based on an expanded deal this year in May 2021 which followed the signing of a long-term agreement from September 2020. Under the agreement, valued at approximately $380m, Samsung manufactures AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination, AZD7442, and will start to manufacture a cancer immunotherapy product from next year.
The COVID treatment is a combination two LAABs, and is the first LAAB to receive an EUA from the FDA for COVID-19 prevention. It has also received authorisations from the US, France, Italy, and Bahrain.
AZD7442 is aimed to complement vaccination programs by providing additional protection for those at increased risk, including people who are immunocompromised, patients on dialysis, oncology patients, those taking medications after an organ transplant or those who are taking immunosuppressive drugs for conditions including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Pam Cheng, Executive VP, Global Operations and IT, AstraZeneca said@ “Over the past year Samsung Biologics has been a highly capable and collaborative partner on our novel COVID-19 long-acting antibody combination. We are excited about expanding our work together into cancer immunotherapy and about laying the foundation for continued growth of our collaboration in the years ahead.”
“We are delighted to continue expanding our strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca, a valuable partner we have witnessed first-hand to have a strong commitment to saving lives of patients,” said John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics. “We will support our clients by bringing innovative solutions to an array of diseases, especially during this time when it is needed the most, and together find ways to expedite the delivery of crucial therapies to the market.”
