The Drug Ministry has approved domestic supply of Moderna's Spikevax which is produced by Samsung Biologics. Now, Samsung Biologics will also begin to manufacture AstraZeneca's COVID-19 antibody combination Evusheld.

In September 2020, Samsung Biologics and AstraZeneca has entered into an initial contract of long-term strategic partnership with is estimated to be about $330 million. Now, the newly expanded deal is estimated at $380 million, up about $50 million.

Formerly known as AZD7442, Evusheld is a combination of two long-acting antibodies -- tixagevimab and cilgavimab. It is a vaccine used to prevent coronavirus infections for those at an increased risk in receiving a vaccine shot due to underlying diseases or a weakened immune system. As the first long-acting antibody combination to receive emergency use approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, Evusheld still has not been approved in South Korea. However, the Samsung Biologics-made coronavirus antibody combination will be distributed overseas.

Due to the expanded agreement between the pharmaceutical giants, Samsung Biologics will begin manufacturing AstraZeneca's oncology product "Imfinzi" from next year.

John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics, said, "We will support our clients by bringing innovative solutions to an array of diseases, especially during this time when it is needed the most, and together find ways to expedite the delivery of crucial therapies to the market." Kim Sang-Pyo, the CEO of AstraZeneca Korea added, "We will quickly solve the problem of COVID-19, which is seriously threatening public health around the world and contribute to changing patients‘ lives by providing innovative anti-cancer drugs to the world more quickly."