Samsung Bioepis Forms Novel Biologics JV With Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Samsung Bioepis, a division of Samsung Biologics, announced a joint venture with Japan's Takeda Pharma to develop novel biologic drugs. The JV's first project will be TAK-671, a candidate aimed at severe acute pancreatitis. Samsung Biologics has two divisions: a biologics CMO operation, and Samsung Bioepis, a company formed by Samsung and Biogen. Until now, Bioepis has been developing biosimilars, but the Takeda agreement will take Bioepis into novel drug development for the first time. One year ago, Samsung Biologics staged a $2 billion IPO on the Korean market.