Six months after telling investors it intended to strike a
biosimilars deal that wouldn't distract it from its core business, Biogen
Idec Inc. announced a JV with Samsung
Group that will tap into the biotech's manufacturing prowess
immediately with the option to become more involved later.
Samsung is a newcomer to
biotherapeutics, but Biogen Idec liked the Korean conglomerate's determination
to enter biosimilars, the resources it has committed to the effort and its
track record of entering new businesses.