8-11th JP Morgan Healthcare Conference
Samsung Biologics and Celltrion Present on 'Main Track'
Lotba, SK Biopharm, Yuhan, Kakao Health Also Present
World's Largest Investment Event as Technology Trading 'Marketplace'
K-Bio Expected to Seek Opportunities Through Various Satellite Events
Domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies are heading to the 'JP Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPMHC).' As the world's largest pharmaceutical and biotech investment event kicking off the new year, attention is focused on whether new achievements such as major technology exports will emerge as companies unveil their plans for the year.
The 42nd JPMHC, held from the 8th to the 11th (local time) in San Francisco, California, USA, is the industry's largest event, gathering over 14,000 global healthcare companies and investors. As major global companies directly reveal their blueprints, it serves as a touchstone for industry trends and is regarded as a venue where major technology deals are finalized or announced.
According to the industry on the 8th, a total of six domestic companies will participate in this event through official invitations from JP Morgan, with CEOs and others directly presenting their companies to attract investment. These include Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, Lotte Biologics, SK Biopharm, Yuhan Corporation, and Kakao Healthcare.
Samsung Biologics and Celltrion have been selected as main track presenting companies, assigned to big players leading the global industry. John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics, who has been presenting on the main track for eight consecutive years, is expected to announce last year's key achievements and this year's business directions. Expectations are high for detailed plans on the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) production facility scheduled to start operations this year, along with the mid-to-long-term vision for Plant 5, which is planned to begin operations in April next year.
Celltrion, which recently completed its merger with Celltrion Healthcare, is expected to officially present the sales growth blueprint of the integrated Celltrion, led by the U.S. new drug approval of 'Zimpentra.' Notably, Seo Jin-seok, chairman of the board who took the helm of the management division during the merger process, will join Chairman Seo Jung-jin on stage, drawing attention. The presentation will be led by Chairman Seo, with both participating in the Q&A session afterward.
Companies participating in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) presentation track include: ▲ Lotte Biologics, which plans to break ground this year on the Songdo bio plant ▲ SK Biopharm, aiming to secure additional growth engines such as radiopharmaceuticals (RPT) following a return to profitability ▲ Yuhan Corporation, focusing on the global growth strategy of the lung cancer drug 'Reclaza' ▲ Kakao Healthcare, with the upcoming launch next month of the diabetes management platform 'Pasta' as a key topic of their presentation.
JPMHC is also a large marketplace where various technology exports are discussed beyond these presentations. In 2015, Hanmi Pharmaceutical's diabetes treatment portfolio, in 2019 Yuhan Corporation's non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) treatment, and in 2022 ABL Bio's degenerative brain disease treatment were either finalized or initiated at JPMHC. This is why many companies attend despite the high participation fees, even without official invitations from JP Morgan.
However, due to the global biotech investment downturn, the scale of this year's event is expected to be somewhat reduced. An industry insider said, "JP Morgan has cut the number of officially invited companies to about two-thirds of the usual, and many venture capitalists (VCs) have taken a more cautious stance," adding, "Many domestic companies plan to seek new opportunities through various 'satellite events' held alongside the main event."
A representative satellite event is the large-scale technology investment conference 'Biotech Showcase,' hosted annually during JPMHC by Demi-Coleton and the EBD Group, which organize pharmaceutical and biotech industry events and partnering forums. More than 12 domestic companies, including DXVX, AprilBio, BioOrchestra, and Mepgen, will present. The Korea Bio Association will also hold 'Global IR @JPM 2024' on the 9th. Five domestic startups selected through screening, such as GI Innovation and Vasgen Bio, along with five overseas startups, will present investor relations (IR) sessions in front of numerous domestic and international VCs attending the event.
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