MSD signs $117m deal with Samsung Bioepis over Janssen biosimilar

American multinational MSD have won a $117 million contract allowing them to supply Samsung Bioepis’ Renflexis to the US Department of Veteran Affairs.

The deal between the multibillion dollar pharma firm MSD, and the Samsung Biologics and Biogen Idec joint-venture Samsung Bioepis, will see MSD supply Renflexis, a biosimilar of Janssen’s Remicade (Infliximab) to the US federal agency that provides healthcare services to military veterans.

The deal comes after a 2013 deal between MSD and Samsung Bioepis settled that Merck would be responsible for commercialising multiple biosimilar candidates, in particular partnered territories.

Meanwhile Samsung Bioepis is responsible for preclinical and clinical development, process development and manufacturing, clinical trials and regulatory registration.

The biosimilar of the blockbuster monoclonal antibody which is used to treat autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis gained FDA approval in April 2017.

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