Merck expands deal with Samsung Bioepis to include Lantus biosimilar

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd., announced on Monday that they have expanded their collaboration with an agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize MK-1293, an insulin glargine candidate for the treatment of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

“We look forward to collaborating with Samsung Bioepis on this insulin glargine candidate, as diabetes is a top priority for the company,” said Matt Strasburger, senior vice president, Diabetes, Global Human Health, Merck. “Merck is strengthening its leadership in diabetes through our own work and in collaboration with others, and this agreement will help build our portfolio across the spectrum of the disease.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will collaborate on clinical development, regulatory filings and manufacturing. If approved, Merck will commercialize this candidate. This collaboration builds on the agreement made by the two companies in February 2013 to develop and commercialize multiple biosimilar candidates. The companies indicated that Phase III clinical studies in type 1 and type 2 diabetes will begin soon.

“Samsung Bioepis is very pleased to extend the partnership with Merck to the field of diabetes,” said Christopher Hansung Ko, Ph.D., CEO of Samsung Bioepis. “This collaboration will bring better access to patients with diabetes worldwide.”

In January, Sanofi filed a lawsuit against Eli Lilly’s marketing authorization submission to the FDA for the insulin glargine product which was co-developed with Boehringer Ingelheim.

Source: Merck press release