Samsung Bioepis Partners with Harrow to Expand US Ophthalmology Market

Samsung Bioepis has made a major commercialization agreement with Harrow Inc., a leading U.S.-based eye care pharmaceutical company, to market its ophthalmology biosimilars, BYOOVIZ and OPUVIZ in the U.S. These medicines are biosimilars of Lucentis and Eylea, respectively. The agreement, however, will become effective only after Biogen Inc.'s commercial rights transfer to Samsung Bioepis is fully completed by end 2025.

This comes after Biogen in October 2024 announced it was ending its 2019 Development and Commercialization Agreement for the U.S. and Canada. Samsung Bioepis and Biogen have since collaborated closely on the transfer of commercialization rights for both biosimilars. Upon completion, Harrow will fully take over marketing and distributing the drugs in the U.S. market.

Key Highlights:

• Samsung Bioepis inks US deal with Harrow for biosimilar eye drug commercialization
• BYOOVIZ and OPUVIZ to expand US access post Biogen rights transition by the end of 2025
• FDA approved treatments for retinal diseases to be marketed via Harrow’s strong U.S. eyecare network

“We are delighted to collaborate with Harrow, a top eyecare pharmaceutical firm with excellent capabilities for commercialization of ophthalmic pharmaceutical products in the North American market. We will closely collaborate with both Harrow and Biogen to make sure there is an orderly transition and continued delivery of services to our customers and patients in the US market." stated Josh Sang Hyun Lee, Business Development Team Leader and Vice President at Samsung Bioepis.

Also Read: The Evolution and Future of the Pharmaceutical Industry

BYOOVIZ was approved by the U.S. FDA in September 2021 as the first ophthalmology biosimilar in the United States and has been marketed since June 2022. OPUVIZ received FDA approval in May 2024 for the treatment of several diseases, including Wet AMD, Macular Edema after RVO, DME, and Diabetic Retinopathy.

Samsung Bioepis reaffirmed its dedication to expanding access to quality and affordable biologic treatments around the world.