Samsung Epis Holdings Co., Ltd., the investment/holding arm formed following the spin-off of Samsung Biologics, has announced the formation of a new subsidiary named Epis NexLab Co., Ltd. to spearhead next-generation biotechnology platform development.

Epis NexLab will leverage the R&D infrastructure and know-how of its affiliate, Samsung Bioepis (which has developed biosimilars over several years), to explore new modalities including peptide and amino-acid conjugate technologies, scalable platform frameworks, and broad-spectrum therapeutic candidates.

The company is set up as a 100 % owned subsidiary of Samsung Epis Holdings, and Peter Seongwon Hong has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In addition to his role at Bioepis (Executive Vice President & Head of Research and Early Development), he will sit on the board of Samsung Epis Holdings as a non-executive director.

Epis NexLab’s business model emphasises platformisation rather than single-molecule development: by creating modular, highly-scalable core technologies (for example peptide conjugates) the company aims to generate diverse therapeutic candidates, license them out, or collaborate with global pharma firms  thereby maximising opportunity and flexibility.

The move comes amid wider restructuring in the Samsung bio-ecosystem: following the spin-off of Samsung Bioepis from Samsung Biologics, the holding company Samsung Epis is positioned to manage the biosimilar business (Bioepis) while driving new growth via Epis NexLab.