바이오스펙테이터

바이오스펙테이터 Seunghyun Chon 기자

Samsung BioLogics signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Merck, a leading science and technology company in Germany. The agreement was for a strategic alliance on biopharmaceutical manufacturing and biologics process development, the company said on October 30, 2017.

This agreement is an extension of a MOU signed in 2014, that encompasses a long-term supply agreement. Merck will provide Samsung BioLogics with raw materials for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

As a key solution provider for Samsung BioLogics' first plant (30,000 L bioreactor) and second plant (152,000 L bioreactor) in Korea, Merck has offered training programs for the Samsung BioLogics team, on building a biologics development process.

Merck's portfolio of Mobius® single-use systems has an advantage, which includesdelivering greater flexibility and continuity for scale-up. reducing the need to retrain operators. For this reason, companies such as Samsung BioLogics have become early adopters of Merck's technologies.

The two companies hope the alliance will accelerate process development and clinical material production at small biotech start-ups, focusing on novel drug development. Under the MOU, Merck will provide process development and support technical training for Samsung BioLogics, in addition to its Mobius® single-use systems.

“We aim to work with the world’s scientists and engineers to solve customers' toughest biomanufacturing challenges,” said Udit Batra, a member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO ofLife Science. "Our collaboration with Samsung BioLogics will be an ideal partnership to help accelerate development of new therapies to reach patients in the future.”