Dongkook Pharmaceutical has signed an agreement to manufacture a biosimilar drug for Prestige Biologic to become the latest to add a Korean name on the list of contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO).

The company said on Monday the contact marks the beginning of its business to serve other companies in the pharmaceutical industry to provide comprehensive services from drug development through drug manufacturing on a contract basis.

Under its contract, Prestige Biologics, a Korean biopharma firm, will provide APIs to Dongkook Pharmaceutical while the latter will produce finished biosimilar products at its plant in Jincheon, Chungbuk.

Prestige Biologics holds rights for Tuznue, a biosimilar version of Herceptin indicated for the treatment of breast cancer and metastatic gastric cancer. Tuznue was developed by Singapore-based Prestige Biopharma affiliated with Prestige Biologics. Distributorship was signed with Mundipharma for Western European sales of Tuznue after a global phase 3 trial was completed. Worldwide sales are due in 2020.

“The contract with Prestige Biologics lays the foundation for the growth of our CDMO business. The contract also represents our partner’s confidence in our entire process from sample production to process development to commercial production,” said Dongkook Pharmaceutical CEO Oh Heung-joo.

By Pulse

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