Samsung Bioepis and Takeda Pharmaceutical have signed a strategic collaboration agreement to develop new biopharmaceuticals, Samsung Bioepis said Monday.

Under the agreement, Samsung Bioepis’s biopharmaceutical platform and technology will combine with Takeda's capability to develop new drugs, creating synergy through the whole process, from searching new substances to conducting clinical trials, winning approvals and commercializing them.

The two companies will begin with the development of TAK-671, a candidate substance for treating severe pancreatitis, and expand to others.

“The agreement with Takeda shows Samsung Bioepis’ biosimilar research and development (R&D) ability accumulated over the past five years has won international recognition,” said Ko Han-sung_고한승, CEO and President of Samsung Bioepis_{삼성바이오에피스}, in a statement. “Takeda’s extensive knowledge and expertise in drug development will open a new chapter for Samsung Bioepis.”

Takeda Pharmaceutical_{다케다제약} also showed enthusiasm for the cooperative agreement.

“Takeda is well aware of Samsung Bioepis’s unique biosimilar development platform and technology,” said Dan Currna, chief of Takeda’s Head Center for External Innovation. “We hope to cooperate in all areas, from research to commercialization, and create synergy concerning time and cost in the process."

Samsung Bioepis, a unit of Samsung group, was founded as a joint venture between Samsung Biologics and Biogen in 2012. The company is collaborating with Merck, a global Pharmaceutical company, also known as MSD in Korea.

Samsung Bioepsis is selling Brenzys (original product: Enbrel) in Australia, Canada, Korea and Europe and Renflexis (original product: Remicade) in Australia and Korea.

The company also received positive marks for Imraldi (original product: Humira) has received from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in June and is waiting to win rights to sell in Europe. Its Herceptin biosimilar is also under review for marketing authorization by the EMA.

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