Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Samsung Bioepis transfers eye care biosimilar sales rights to US firm
Samsung Bioepis headquarters in Incheon / Courtesy of Samsung Bioepis
By Nam Hyun-woo
Samsung Bioepis has transferred the commercial responsibility of its two ophthalmic biosimilars in the United States to a local pharmaceutical firm, the biotech firm said Friday.
Samsung Bioepis entered into a license, development and commercialization agreement (DCA) with Harrow, a U.S. eye care drug specialist, transferring the commercialization rights of the former’s ophthalmology biosimilar drugs Byooviz and Opuviz in the U.S.
Currently, the U.S. commercial rights for the two drugs are held by Biogen, a former stakeholder of Samsung Bioepis. Harrow’s commercial license will become effective upon completion of the transition of commercial rights from Biogen back to Samsung Bioepis, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
In October 2024, Biogen notified Samsung Bioepis of its decision to terminate the 2019 DCA on the two drugs within the U.S. and Canada. Biogen held 50 percent less one share of Samsung Bioepis, but ended the shareholding relationship in 2022 by selling its stake to Samsung Biologics.
Byooviz was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2021 as a biosimilar referencing Lucentis and launched its commercial sales in June 2022. Opuviz was approved in May 2024.
“We are pleased to partner with Harrow, a leading eye care pharmaceutical company with strong capabilities in commercialization of ophthalmic pharmaceutical products in the North American market,” Samsung Bioepis Vice President Lee Sang-hyun said.
“We will work closely with both Biogen and Harrow to ensure a seamless transition and the continued delivery of services to our customers and patients in the U.S. market.”