'Samsung Biologics to Start ADC Production Within the Year, Collaborates with LegoChem This Time'

Samsung Biologics is collaborating with LegoChem Biosciences to develop antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutics.

Samsung Biologics' ADC production facility rendering aiming for completion within the year
[Photo by Samsung Biologics]

On the 7th, Samsung Biologics announced that it has signed a new contract for contract development (CDO) with LegoChem Bio.

Founded in 2006, LegoChem Bio is a leading domestic ADC company with differentiated research and development capabilities in ADC technology and synthetic new drugs. Last year, it successfully licensed the ADC therapeutic candidate 'LCB84' for solid tumors to Johnson & Johnson (J&J) for up to $1.7 billion (approximately 2.25 trillion KRW), marking a series of major technology exports. To date, LegoChem Bio has signed a total of 13 technology licensing agreements with global pharmaceutical companies, amounting to as much as 8.7 trillion KRW.

ADC is a technology that links antibodies that bind to cancer cells with cytotoxic drugs (payloads) through linkers. It is called a ‘cruise missile’ that precisely targets only cancer by locating cancer cells. Recently, the breast cancer treatment ADC Enhertu, jointly developed by AZ and Daiichi Sankyo, has significantly extended patients' progression-free survival (PFS), intensifying the technology competition.

Through this contract, Samsung Biologics will provide LegoChem Bio with CDO services covering the entire process from cell line development to clinical material production related to antibody development, which is essential for ADC development. LegoChem Bio will also be able to secure a stable supply of raw materials by establishing an antibody supply chain through a domestic company. Kim Yong-joo, CEO of LegoChem Bio, explained, "Previously, we only received ADC antibodies through overseas companies. We expect to secure a stable domestic supply chain through this contract."

Samsung Biologics aims to complete the construction of ADC production facilities within this year and begin full-scale production, continuing cooperation with biotech companies that have secured related technologies. The company appears to focus on securing technology through collaboration rather than direct mergers and acquisitions. Last year, through the 'Life Science Fund' formed with Samsung C&T and Samsung Bioepis, it invested in Switzerland's Araris Biotech and Korea's Aimed Bio. It has also revealed plans to expand ADCs, which are currently made only with single antibodies, to bispecific antibodies..

John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics, said, “We will actively continue investment activities to secure competitiveness in the ADC field, which is emerging as next-generation bio technology, and to proactively respond to the market,” adding, “We will strengthen collaboration with promising domestic biotech companies like LegoChem Bio to secure technological competitiveness.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.