South Korea-based Samsung Biologics continues its strategic biopharmaceutical manufacturing collaboration with AstraZeneca. The partnership is based on an expanded deal this year in May 2021 which followed the signing of a long-term strategic agreement made in September 2020.

Under the agreement, valued at approximately $380 million up from the initial $331 million for the production of drug substance and drug product, Samsung Biologics manufactures AstraZeneca's COVID-19 long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination, AZD7442, and will start to manufacture a cancer immunotherapy product from next year.

AZD7442 is a combination of two LAABs being developed for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. AZD7442 is the first LAAB to receive an EUA from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for COVID-19 prevention and it has received authorizations from the US, France, Italy, and Bahrain.

AZD7442 has the potential to complement national vaccination programs by providing additional protection for those considered at increased risk of an inadequate response to a COVID-19 vaccine, including people who are immunocompromised, patients on dialysis, oncology patients, those taking medications after an organ transplant or those who are taking immunosuppressive drugs for conditions including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.