Samsung Epis Holdings, Samsung's biopharmaceutical investment holding company, has launched a research and development (R&D) base in China, marking its full-scale push to build a global new-drug development network. The strategy centers on strengthening cooperation with China's bio ecosystem around antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), a next-generation anticancer technology drawing attention, to secure future growth engines.
Samsung Epis Holdings said it held an opening ceremony in Changping district, Beijing, on Nov. 30 and began full-fledged R&D activities.
The China R&D center that opened is Samsung Epis Holdings' first overseas R&D base, established to secure next-generation technology platforms including ADC and to strengthen its capabilities in developing innovative new drugs. The company plans to discover promising technologies and candidate substances early through cooperation with the local bio industry, and to expand its global R&D network to reinforce the foundation for future growth.
Changping district in Beijing, where the R&D base is located, is home to Zhongguancun Life Science Park, one of China's largest bio clusters. With top-tier Chinese universities and research institutions such as Peking University and Tsinghua University nearby, the location is regarded as advantageous for securing abundant research infrastructure and outstanding talent. With numerous global pharmaceutical and bio companies and startups clustered there, it is also assessed as a suitable environment for joint research and open innovation.
Kim Kyung-ah, president of Samsung Epis Holdings, stressed at the opening ceremony that "with the opening of the China R&D center, we have taken the first step toward building a global R&D network." She added, "Going forward, we will continue to expand new businesses, including discovering innovative new-drug candidate substances, by closely cooperating with China's bio ecosystem."
