Samsung Bioepis announced on the 9th that it has signed a partnership agreement with NIPRO Corporation in Japan for the commercialization of various products, including the autoimmune disease treatment "Stelara" biosimilar (a generic biological drug).
This is the first time the company is pursuing collaboration with a local firm to enter the Japanese market. Under the agreement, Samsung Bioepis will handle product development and production/supply, while NIPRO will be responsible for sales.
Kim Kyung-a, president of Samsung Bioepis, said, "This partnership agreement is an important turning point for entering the Japanese market, and we will strive to expand patient access to high-quality biological drugs by closely collaborating with a specialized seller in Japan, where the biosimilar market potential is significant."
Since its establishment in 2012, Samsung Bioepis has obtained approvals for a total of 11 blockbuster (medications exceeding 1 trillion won in sales) biosimilar products, and last year, it achieved a record sales figure of 1.5377 trillion won.