**Sponsored Content
Samsung has become a global leader across various industries over the last 85 years, propelled by the drive for unmatched quality, supply resilience and innovation. Having that drive rooted in Samsung DNA, Samsung Bioepis is expanding its presence in the biopharmaceutical sector with an aim to improve access to healthcare.
Established in 2012, Samsung Bioepis is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to unlocking the potential of biosimilars, and is committed to improving the accessibility of treatments for patients around the world. Our mission is reflected in our name – it is taken from the Greek words ‘bio’ meaning life, and ‘episteme’ meaning science.
A decade ago, although biosimilars were not known to many, we decided to develop biosimilars as we believed biosimilars could bring value to patients, healthcare professionals, payers and many other stakeholders within the wider healthcare system by increasing access to biologic medicines.
Biosimilars are biologic medicines that are highly similar to an already approved biologic drug, known as the reference biologic drug. There are no expected clinically meaningful differences in efficacy and safety between a biosimilar and the reference product authorized for sale, according to Health Canada.i
Within just a decade, Samsung Bioepis has become one of the major players in the global biopharmaceuticals sector, achieving this by expansively developing our biosimilars portfolio in a range of therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, ophthalmology, hematology and endocrinology.
We use a data-driven approach and rigorous quality control in its biosimilar development processes – from the preclinical stage to large-scale manufacturing – to produce cost-effective medication in a shorter period of time, or what we call it as ‘process innovation’.
By focusing on process innovation and establishing strong partnerships, Samsung Bioepis has six biosimilars that are authorized for sale and are available around the world.
Our innovative research and development platforms, combined with manufacturing and partnerships have helped us to establish a global footprint, so we can provide biosimilars to those who need them most.
Through global commercialization partnerships, we have extended our sales and marketing network to broaden the availability of our biosimilars to patients around the world.
In Canada, we have commercialization partnership with Organon, who have been working tirelessly with local physicians, pharmacists, and regulators to bringing quality medicine to Canadian patients. For our ophthalmology biosimilar portfolio in Canada, we have commercialization partnership with Biogen.
Having similar safety and efficacy as reference biologic drugs and meeting the same rigorous regulatory standards, biosimilars have been authorized for sale in Canada since 2009.ii
Increasing the use of biosimilars authorized for sale by Health Canada would not only allow increased access and choice, but also bring medicines at more affordable costs to the Canadian healthcare system.iii iv Savings from biosimilars can support creating a more sustainable, cost-effective way to treat patients.v
Samsung Bioepis emphasizes the importance of making sure its products are delivered on time, so that patients can receive treatments at the right time. Supply chain and product continuity are the most important aspects of its mission, and it has made a promise to its patients that it will deliver medicines.
By having geographically diversified manufacturing and storage sites across three continents – North America, Europe and Asia, this “near-market” strategy gives us an edge that allows us to remain vigilant and respond quickly to market dynamics.
At the core of our business and vision are the patients around world without viable treatment options. This is why we are further committed to fulfilling our social responsibility and becoming a sustainable company, which is also a part of Samsung Philosophy – devoting one’s talent and technology to creating products and services that contribute to a better global society.
As a biopharmaceutical company, we will continuously build our profile and presence in Canada and elsewhere around the world, while educating prescribers, patients and other stakeholders on the benefits that biosimilars can provide to the healthcare system.
Samsung Bioepis’s work remains far from finished.
I
Health Canada, Biosimilar biologic drugs in Canada: Fact Sheet, https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/biologics-radiopharmaceuticals-genetic-therapies/applications-submissions/guidance-documents/fact-sheet-biosimilars.html
II
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, Biologics in Canada. Part 1: Market Trends, 2018 https://www.canada.ca/en/patented-medicine-prices-review/services/reports-studies/biologics-part1-market-trends.html
III
Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, Biosimilar Drugs https://www.cadth.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/biosimilar_drugs_patient_en.pdf
IV
Biosimilars Canada, The Benefits of Biosimilar Medicines https://biosimilarscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Module5_final_EN.pdf
V
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, Biologics in Canada. Part 2: Biosimilar Savings, 2018 https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/pmprb-cepmb/documents/reports-and-studies/chartbooks/biologics-part2-biosimilar-savings2018.pdf
