Samsung Biologics said that it has signed a contract with Ichnos Sciences to manufacture the latter’s ISB 830, an anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody developed as a potential treatment for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

Samsung BioLogics headquarters in Songdo, Incheon.

The long-term contract came after the two companies signed a 10 billion won ($8.6 million) contract manufacturing organization (CMO) contract in June 2018. The new deal is worth 6.3 billion won.

While the minimum guaranteed amount for Samsung BioLogics based on this contract is 16.3 billion won, the contract size can increase to 71.7 billion won if Ichnos Sciences successfully develops the treatment, which is expected by 2020, the Korean company said.

Samsung BioLogics plans to begin production in line with phase 3 clinical trials of the atopic dermatitis treatments.

Ichnos, headquartered in Paramus, N.J., is a fully integrated global biotech company that is rapidly advancing its pipeline and has five novel, first-in-class candidates in clinical-stage development.

“As we progress our pipeline of clinical-stage assets, including our most advanced biologic ISB 830, we are pleased to continue to work with Samsung BioLogics to ensure continued drug substance supply for ISB 830,” said Ichnos Sciences CEO Alessandro Riva said. “We look forward to a mutually beneficial collaboration as we continue developing ISB 830 for autoimmune diseases, including atopic dermatitis.”

Samsung BioLogics CEO Kim Tae-han also said, “We are extremely proud to advance our ongoing relationship with Ichnos and truly appreciate the trust they have placed in Samsung BioLogics to ensure delivery of high-quality ISB 830 drug supply for clinical studies and potential future commercial supply.”

Client satisfaction is our highest priority, and the company looks forward to generating future value for Ichnos, Kim added.

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the seven major markets – the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.K., and Japan -- currently exceeds 80 million patients, and the market is expected to grow to $18.3 billion by 2027, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

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