On 9 July 2026, Samsung Bioepis announced it signed a licence option agreement with Proteina, a Korean biotechnology company, to use the results of an R&D project aimed at developing AI-based antibody therpeutics.
The R&D project was launched in October 2025 and is an initiative led by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which Samsung Bioepis and Proteina are pursuing together with a research team at Seoul National University.
Under the agreement, Proteina is responsible for leading the discovery and validation of antibody drug candidates using AI, whilst Samsung Bioepis is responsible for preclinical development through to the filing of Investigational New Drug applications.
If Samsung Bioepis exercises its licence option, it can proceed with clinical trials and commercialisation of the drug(s), in exchange for payments to Proteina for R&D achievements and royalties. The companies aim to identify antibody drug candidates by 2027. The financial details of this agreement have not been disclosed.
AI-supported drug development is a growing area of interest. In May 2023, Sandoz and Just-Evotec Biologics entered into a partnership that utilised Just-Evotec Biologics’ AI driven drug development platform and manufacturing technology. This partnership was expanded in July 2024, with Sandoz acquiring Just-Evotec Biologics EU and its J.POD® biologics manufacturing facility in Toulouse, France in July 2025.