[Market Focus] Encell Shares Surge as Samsung Family Investment Highlights Bio Division Strengthening

Encell shares are showing strong performance. As the Samsung Group is pushing for a spin-off of Samsung Biologics to strengthen its bio division, news that the Samsung Welfare Foundation and Samsung Venture Investment, among other Samsung affiliates, have invested in and supported Encell appears to be acting as a positive catalyst.

As of 9:51 a.m. on May 22, Encell shares were trading at 14,130 won, up 5.20% from the previous day.

Encell is a biotech venture specializing in the development of advanced biopharmaceuticals, founded by Jang Jongwook, a professor at Samsung Medical Center. The company has received an 11% equity investment from the Samsung Welfare Foundation and Samsung Venture Investment. It is also considered to be receiving broad support from Samsung affiliates, including jointly winning national R&D projects with Samsung Medical Center. Earlier this month, Encell participated in the 'Bio Korea 2025' event to promote its contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) capabilities for advanced biopharmaceuticals and its new drug pipeline.

Meanwhile, Samsung Biologics announced before the market opened on this day that it had decided to completely separate its contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) business and biosimilar business through a spin-off.

As a result, Samsung Biologics will retain the existing company as the surviving entity responsible for the CDMO business, while the newly established company, Samsung Epis Holdings, will control Samsung Bioepis, the subsidiary in charge of the biosimilar business. Through this, the company aims to strengthen the competitiveness of each business and enhance both corporate and shareholder value.