UK headquartered GlaxoSmithKline plc and South Korea based Samsung Biologics have entered into a partnership to provide GSK with additional capacity to manufacture and supply GSK's innovative biopharmaceutical therapies.

Under the terms of the agreement, Samsung Biologics will provide GSK with additional capacity for large-scale biopharmaceutical product manufacturing. This capacity will be flexible depending on GSK's future needs and will supplement GSK's existing manufacturing network.

The agreement is worth more than $231 million USD over the next eight years. It will initially cover commercial production of Benlysta (belimumab), with technology transfer starting in 2020 and first commercial supply expected in 2022. The intention is to expand to additional specialty-care products in the future.