Samsung Bioepis and Korean Biotech IntoCell Announce Wednesday July 22 a Commercial License Agreement for SBE303, a Nectin-4-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate Currently in Phase 1 Clinical Development in the US and Korea for Advanced Refractory Solid Tumors With Planned Enrollment of 149 Patients Through July 2030; The Deal Extends Samsung Bioepis's Shift From Biosimilar Manufacturing Into Novel-Drug Development Through Joint Research and Licensing With IntoCell and China's Frontline
Samsung Bioepis and Korean biotech IntoCell announced Wednesday July 22, 2026 that they have entered into a commercial license agreement for SBE303, one of the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidates the two companies are jointly developing. SBE303 is a next-generation ADC cancer treatment targeting the Nectin-4 protein, combining Samsung Bioepis's proprietary humanized antibody with IntoCell's linker platform and a payload originally developed by IntoCell under patent license from China's Frontline. Samsung Bioepis is currently conducting a global Phase 1 clinical trial of SBE303 in the United States and Korea, with plans to evaluate safety and preliminary efficacy in 149 patients with advanced refractory solid tumors through July 2030. The deal extends Samsung Bioepis's strategic shift from a biosimilar manufacturer to a novel-drug developer, and adds to the July 2026 payload-and-conjugate consolidation wave alongside Novartis's July 6 $1.5 billion Myricx Bio acquisition (NMTi payload platform), Lonza's July 2 Nona Biosciences TfR1 blood-brain-barrier deal, SOTIO's July 14 FDA Fast Track Designation for SOT109 (CDH17 ADC), and Simris Group's July 16 appointment of former Heidelberg Pharma CEO Andreas Pahl to lead its cyanobacterial microcystin ADC payload platform.