Framework Completed in Just 18 Months
Aiming for Commercial Production by 2027
On September 10, Lotte Biologics announced that it had held the topping-out ceremony for the first plant of the Songdo Bio Campus, which is under construction in the Advanced Industry Cluster of Songdo International City, Incheon.
At the topping-out ceremony of Lotte Biologics Songdo Bio Campus Plant 1 in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon on the 9th, Shin Youl, Head of Global Strategy at Lotte Biologics and Head of Future Growth at Lotte Holdings (from left in the photo), James Park, CEO of Lotte Biologics, Hyuncheol Park, Vice Chairman and CEO of Lotte Construction, and Jin Kim, Head of CM Business Division at Lotte Construction, are taking a commemorative photo. Lotte BiologicsPhoto by Lotte Biologics
The event was attended by James Park, CEO of Lotte Biologics, Shin Yuyeol, Head of Global Strategy at Lotte Biologics and Head of Future Growth at Lotte Holdings, Hyuncheol Park, Vice Chairman and CEO of Lotte Construction, Jin Kim, CEO of the CM Business Division at Lotte Construction, as well as key executives and employees from the Lotte Group.
The topping-out ceremony is a traditional event held when the ridge beam, the highest structural member of a roof, is installed during the construction of a building. Along with the ceremony, a message called the “topping-out document,” which includes the date of the event and wishes for good fortune, is written and placed on the building to announce its completion and pray for safety and well-being. The topping-out document included Lotte Group's mission to "contribute to the enrichment of human life by providing products and services that are loved and trusted," as well as the signatures of key attendees.
Lotte Biologics explained, "The significance of this event is heightened by the fact that we began construction in March last year and, in just 18 months, have completed the framework, marking an important milestone toward completion." Previously, in October 2023, Lotte Biologics had formalized the establishment of the Songdo Bio Campus by signing a land purchase agreement with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ).
Lotte Biologics is working to establish the Songdo Bio Campus, which will consist of three production facilities, each with a production capacity of 120,000 liters. The first plant among these is an antibody drug manufacturing facility, scheduled for completion in 2026, with the goal of commencing commercial production in the first half of 2027. Upon completion of the first plant, the company will secure a total production capacity of 160,000 liters, including the 40,000-liter capacity of the Syracuse Bio Campus in the United States.
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Lotte Biologics has also presented a vision to develop the Songdo Bio Campus as a “hub for biopharmaceutical production.” The first plant will be constructed as a “smart factory” incorporating state-of-the-art technology to maximize production efficiency and strengthen the quality management system. The company also plans to secure process flexibility in order to respond broadly to the diverse needs of potential global clients. Through these efforts, Lotte Biologics aims to grow into a global top-tier CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) with the highest levels of efficiency and flexibility.
In his commemorative speech, James Park, CEO of Lotte Biologics, stated, “The topping-out ceremony for the first plant of the Songdo Bio Campus is an important stepping stone for the growth of Lotte Biologics and a meaningful moment that opens the future of Korea’s bio industry. We will continue to lead the global CDMO market through ongoing investment and technological advancement, and grow into a company that contributes to improving human health.”
Shin Yuyeol, Head of Global Strategy at Lotte Biologics and Head of Future Growth at Lotte Holdings, who attended the event, said, “Thanks to the dedication of construction and bio employees in their respective roles from groundbreaking to topping-out, we are able to celebrate this meaningful day. Lotte Biologics will become a new growth engine for the group and grow into a company that represents the future.”
Lotte Biologics is expected to maximize the synergy of operating a “dual site” in Syracuse, New York, and Songdo, Incheon. While the Syracuse Bio Campus will serve as a “one-stop CDMO hub from antibodies to ADCs (antibody-drug conjugates),” the Songdo Bio Campus will play a complementary role as a “mass production base.”
Now in its fourth year since establishment, Lotte Biologics has demonstrated its presence in the global order market by securing three contracts this year alone. On September 2, the company announced a contract manufacturing agreement with a US-based biotech company, and in June, during “Bio International 2025” held in Boston, USA, it signed an antibody drug contract manufacturing agreement with UK-based biotech company Otimo Pharma. In addition, in April, the company also announced an ADC-related order with an Asia-based biotech company.
In March of this year, Lotte Biologics completed the construction of an ADC production facility at the Syracuse Bio Campus. Through an investment of approximately 100 million dollars (about 139 billion won), the facility is equipped with integrated production and purification lines, including a conjugation reactor with a maximum capacity of 1,000 liters. It offers not only in-house quality control (QC) testing but also characterization analysis services. Furthermore, from antibody pre-processing to automated aseptic filling of raw materials, a single-use (disposable) system has been established to flexibly meet the diverse needs of clients.
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