[Samsung on the Rise Again] "Creating the 'Second Semiconductor Miracle' with Bio"… Strengthening Investment in Biosimilars and CDMO

Samsung Biologics Plant 5 and 6 Construction
New Entry into Next-Generation Therapeutics CDMO
Focused Investment on Expanding and Advancing Biosimilar Pipeline

Samsung Biologics Plant 3 Overview (Photo by Samsung Biologics)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Samsung Electronics announced on the 24th a large-scale investment plan to newly invest 240 trillion won over three years in preparation for the future after COVID-19, together with its major affiliates. Notably, this decision includes a blueprint to foster the bio sector as the second semiconductor through next-generation therapeutic CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) and others.

Samsung, which entered the bio business by establishing Samsung Biologics in 2011, has completed three CDMO plants in about nine years. Once the fourth plant currently under construction is completed, Samsung Biologics' production capacity will reach 620,000 liters, making it the world's number one in the CDMO field.

Samsung Bioepis, responsible for biosimilars, has currently entered clinical trials for its tenth product. Among these, five products have already been launched in the global market.

Samsung Biologics and Samsung Bioepis plan to continue an active investment policy in the future. In the CDMO sector, they will expand their absolute dominance as a global bio-pharmaceutical production hub through the construction of the fifth and sixth plants. They also plan to newly enter next-generation therapeutic CDMO fields such as vaccines, cell, and gene therapies beyond bio-pharmaceuticals.

In the biosimilar sector, they plan to focus investment on pipeline expansion and advancement.

A Samsung official said, "We will revitalize the domestic bio-industry ecosystem through training professionals, domestic production of raw and subsidiary materials, and technical support for small and medium biotechs," adding, "Our goal is to create a 'second semiconductor myth' in the bio industry by strengthening biosimilars and CDMO."