[Bio USA] "We Thought They Were Chasing, But They're Right Beside Us"... Are Emerging Nations Outpacing Korea?

Emerging Bio Powerhouses Rise in India and Singapore
Active Networking and Showcasing Technological Capabilities

The world's largest bio exhibition, 'Bio USA,' which concluded on the 20th (local time), highlighted not only the traditional bio powerhouses but also the rise of emerging bio nations on the global stage. Korean companies also demonstrated global competitiveness in areas such as CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) and ADC (Antibody-Drug Conjugates). However, industry insiders unanimously expressed, "We definitely felt a sense of crisis."

The India Pavilion at the world's largest bio exhibition 'BIO USA,' which concludes on the 20th (local time). Photo by Choi Taewon

India sent a total of about 40 companies to this year's BIO USA, with each reportedly holding more than 20 meetings. A representative from Veepragen Biosciences, an Indian CRO (Contract Research Organization) specializing in new drug and bio R&D, stated, "India is showing strong national interest in the bio industry and is developing rapidly every year," adding, "Compared to last year’s participation at BIO USA, we are seeing much greater interest from client companies." The India Pavilion featured major bio companies such as Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, alongside government agencies like the Department of Biotechnology, to showcase India's bio capabilities.

India has demonstrated global competitiveness, with its domestic biotech company Immunel Therapeutics succeeding in commercializing the CAR-T therapy 'Qartemi' in January this year. CAR-T therapy is a next-generation cancer treatment that involves extracting a patient's immune T cells, genetically engineering them to attack cancer cells, and then reinfusing them into the patient to eliminate the cancer. Notably, this product has dramatically improved patient accessibility by offering treatment at less than one-tenth the cost of administration in the United States or Europe (approximately 500 to 600 million KRW). This signifies that India's bio industry has moved beyond being a "low-cost generics production base" to become a developer and commercializer of innovative cancer therapies.

Companies from emerging bio powerhouses in Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia, participated individually without national pavilions, yet remained highly active. In particular, Singaporean biotech Biosyngen unveiled its own clinical progress in applying immune cell-based cancer therapies, such as TCR-T and CAR-T, to solid tumors. Lee Seungkyu, Vice President of the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization, commented, "The pace at which India and emerging Southeast Asian countries are catching up in clinical and market entry is faster than expected. Since these fields overlap with Korea’s strengths, it is conceivable that we could be overtaken within three to five years. If we fall behind these latecomers, we risk remaining a 'bio peripheral nation.'" He further stressed, "With the current fast follower strategy, it is impossible for Korea to enter the global top five. We must create an institutional environment that allows innovative technologies to reach the market."

The China Pavilion at the world's largest bio exhibition 'Bio USA,' which concluded on the 20th (local time). Photo by Choi Taewon

Chinese companies, which are challenging the dominance of the United States and Europe, returned to the event this year after skipping it last year. HitGen, a company specializing in DNA-encoded compounds, held more than 50 meetings during the exhibition, while AI-driven drug development firm Deemix conducted over 40 business meetings. Noh Yeonhong, Chairman of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, stated, "China is showing rapid growth in the field of new drug development, and global dependence on Chinese APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) remains high," also pointing out risks regarding supply chain stability.

The government and industry have long pursued a strategy to foster Korea as one of the world's top five bio powerhouses, with the growth of companies like Samsung Biologics and Celltrion supporting this goal. However, there are still few successful cases of commercialization after entering global Phase 3 clinical trials in the new drug development field, and the intensifying global CDMO competition also highlights the limitations of Korea’s bio competitiveness.

An industry insider met at the event commented, "While China remains cautious about full-scale expansion due to supply chain issues, the challenges posed by emerging countries like Thailand and Indonesia could threaten CDMO and high-value technology competition in the long term. We need strategies to position ourselves in high-barrier fields such as ADC, or to supplement price competitiveness with new service models."