[BIO USA] IDT Biologica Confident in Achieving Annual Sales of 440 Billion KRW and Return to Profitability

"Active Promotion of Customized End-to-End Solutions"
"Risks and Opportunities Coexist Amid US-China Tensions"

IDT Biologica (IDT), a German CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) and a subsidiary of SK Bioscience, has announced its ambition to achieve sales of 275 million euros (approximately 440 billion KRW) this year and return to profitability.

Federico Polano, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of IDT Biologica, is announcing future plans at the 2025 BIO International Convention (BIO USA) held in Boston, USA, on the 17th (local time). Photo by Choi Taewon

Federico Polano, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of IDT, held a press conference at the 2025 BIO International Convention (BIO USA) in Boston, USA, on the 17th (local time), where he outlined these plans. He stated, "We expect to achieve our targets by the end of the year as we introduce various production platforms and modalities to the market."

He added, "To achieve our goals, we plan to actively promote customized end-to-end solutions," and explained, "I believe that expanding our production and development capabilities to cover the pipelines of global big pharma companies is the most important way to deliver results."

Polano also emphasized, "To grow in the global market, it is essential to have rapid and reliable development and production capabilities," and mentioned, "If we can quickly demonstrate our clinical drug development and manufacturing capabilities, we will be able to enhance our competitiveness."

According to Polano, meaningful results have already emerged at this year's BIO USA. He said, "Within just two days, we held several meetings and were able to meet clients interested in IDT's services," and added, "It usually takes about six months to finalize a CDMO contract. I see this as the beginning of the journey toward securing contracts."

He assessed that the global environment, including trade tensions between the United States and China, presents both risks and opportunities. Polano explained, "Depending on how US-China relations develop, there could be issues in the pharmaceutical supply chain, so we are watching the situation closely." He also noted, "Due to the heightened tension between the two countries, there is a tendency for the supply chain to look toward Europe, which could present new opportunities."

Polano is one of three executives ambitiously recruited by SK Bioscience after its acquisition of IDT in October last year. He has previously served as Senior Vice President of Business Development, Head of Pharmaceutical Division, and Global Head of Contract Manufacturing and Business Development at major global pharmaceutical companies. After working at GSK, Polpharma Biologics, Richter-Helm Biotec, and Rentschler Biopharma, he was appointed as CCO of IDT in March this year.

IDT is considered the primary contributor to SK Bioscience's improved performance. On a consolidated basis, SK Bioscience recorded sales of 154.6 billion KRW and an operating loss of 15.1 billion KRW in the first quarter of this year, according to provisional figures. With the performance of IDT, which completed its acquisition in October last year, now included, sales increased nearly sevenfold compared to 22.3 billion KRW in the same period last year. IDT, which had continued to post operating losses until the third quarter of last year, turned to profitability in the fourth quarter immediately after being acquired by SK Bioscience and has continued to improve its performance in the first quarter of this year.