Samsung Biologics to develop anti-cancer candidate for STCube

Samsung Biologics plant 3 in Incheon. / Courtesy of Samsung Biologics

By Nam Hyun-woo

Samsung Biologics has entered into a development and manufacturing service agreement with STCube for the latter's STM418 immuno-oncology candidate.

STM418 received much attention from the biopharmaceutical industry earlier this year following the publication of a study in the Cancer Research Journal. In the preliminary study, STCube reported that STM418 potentially inhibits PD-1 binding to enhance anti-tumor immunity.

PD-1, or programmed cell death protein 1, is a protein on cell surfaces that can prevent the immune system from killing cancer cells.

Under the agreement, Samsung Biologics will provide full contract development services including cell line development, process development, non-clinical and clinical material manufacturing, and investigational new drug (IND) applications for the global clinical trials of STM418.

This is the second time that Samsung Biologics and STCube have signed a contract development agreement. In March, the two sides entered a partnership for immuno-oncology molecule STT-003.

“We are grateful to STCube for this extended partnership and for recognizing our development expertise and our dedication to bringing client products to market faster and better,” Samsung Biologics CEO Kim Tae-han said.

STCube CEO Jung Hyun-jin said, “We look forward to getting fast IND approval for our novel PD-1 antibody through this extended partnership with Samsung Biologics. “We will commence global clinical trials to prove the enhanced efficacy compared to existing PD-1 antibodies.”

Including the latest, Samsung Biologics has signed 55 contract development agreements since it started the business in 2018. The company attributed the fast growth of its contract development business to a 53 percent rate of clients returning for additional partnerships.

“The high rate of clients signing additional contracts shows that Samsung Biologics' drug development speed and quality are widely recognized,” Kim said.