Samsung Biologics said Tuesday that it has signed a contract manufacturing agreement worth 381.9 billion won ($352.79 million, based on USD/KRW 1,082.90 on Dec. 21, 2017) with Belgium-based UCB. The contract is an extension of a $41.65 million contract signed with the Belgian company in 2017.

UCB is a global pharmaceutical company that has developed five drugs for epilepsy, including the blockbuster Vimpat. Samsung Biologics signed a CMO agreement with the company in 2017 and has been partnering with it for seven years.

Samsung Biologics attributed its long-term partnership with UCB to customer trust built on its world's largest production capacity, speedy competitiveness, and reliable quality.

Samsung Biologics has invested to secure production capacity in advance. For instance, in June 2023, Plant 4 (240,000 liters), the world's largest single plant, went into full operation, bringing the total production capacity to 604,000 liters, the largest in the world, the company said.

Samsung Biologics has also demonstrated outstanding quality capabilities in drug manufacturing and management, with a 99 percent batch success rate last year and a cumulative total of 268 regulatory approvals as of the end of February this year.

Based on this competitiveness, Samsung Biologics has continued to expand new and expanded contracts with major global pharmaceutical companies, securing 14 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies as customers. Since its founding, Samsung Biologics has accumulated $12 billion in orders, with last year’s orders alone amounting to 3.05 trillion won, it added.

Samsung Biologics plans to strengthen its order competitiveness through a growth strategy centered on three pillars -- production capacity, portfolio, and geographical presence.

Samsung Biologics said the company would strengthen its capabilities and expand its portfolio to reflect trends in the next-generation drug market, including ADC therapeutics.

In addition to producing next-generation drugs, Samsung Biologics plans to continue R&D to enhance its technological capabilities within CDMOs, including the transient expression platform S-CHOsient and drug discovery platform Developick, launched last year.

A Samsung Biologics official said the company would consider various ways to enter additional global bases to flexibly communicate with its growing global customers and identify potential customers.