[JPM 2026] Seo Jinseok, Celltrion CEO: "New Drug Development Results Expected Within 2-3 Years"

Presentation at JPMHC Main Track on the 13th
Spotlight on New Drug Pipeline and U.S. Manufacturing Base

Celltrion's new drug pipeline and its new U.S. manufacturing base are attracting attention at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPMHC), the largest investment event in the global healthcare sector. The company's efforts to establish itself as a new drug developer, moving beyond biosimilars, are drawing increased interest from global investors.

Seo Jinseok, CEO of the Management Division at Celltrion, stated during his main track presentation at JPMHC, held on the 13th (local time) at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, California, "Celltrion has entered a new phase of growth," adding, "We will build a new drug platform based on our biosimilar business." He conveyed that Celltrion plans to reinvest the cash flow and antibody technology capabilities gained from biosimilars into new drug development, and to strategically expand its U.S. manufacturing base to further strengthen its 'development-production-commercialization' value chain.

Seo Jinseok, CEO of the Management Division at Celltrion, is presenting at the main track of the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference held on the 13th (local time) at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, California, USA. Celltrion

Celltrion has identified 16 new drug pipeline candidates as its 'next-generation growth engines.' Seo explained, "Most clinical entries and data announcements for each pipeline are concentrated between 2025 and 2027," and added, "We expect to see tangible results in new drug development within the next two to three years." Three of the company's antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidates and the multi-specific antibody CT-P72 have already entered Phase 1 clinical trials, and key Phase 1 results for four other candidates are expected to be released sequentially starting in the second half of this year. For the obesity treatment CT-G32, Celltrion is developing it as a quadruple agonist targeting improvements in 'efficacy variability' and 'muscle loss,' with plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application in the second half of next year.

Seo also revealed that CT-P70 has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), explaining that "this allows us to communicate more frequently with regulators on clinical trial design and development strategy, and to shorten the overall development timeline." The company also plans to seek Fast Track designation for other candidates, such as CT-P71, CT-P72, and CT-P73, to further accelerate clinical development. Regarding ADC competitiveness, Seo mentioned upgrading payloads (drugs) through partnerships and expressed confidence in achieving clinical differentiation.

Lee Hyukjae, Senior Executive Vice President overseeing production and supply chains at Celltrion, detailed the rationale and economic benefits behind the acquisition of the manufacturing facility in Branchburg, New Jersey. He noted that the facility currently has a production capacity of 66,000 liters, stating, "If we were to build a greenfield (new plant), construction alone would cost about $330 million, but with this acquisition, we can begin production immediately." He added, "From next month, we will begin CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) operations for Eli Lilly products." This was presented to investors as a structure where the acquisition leads to immediate revenue contribution.

Celltrion chose Branchburg to localize and absorb trade and supply chain risks. During a Q&A session, Lee referenced the heightened tariff issues at the beginning of last year, saying, "We considered uncertainty the worst variable and made a quick decision." He added, "Lilly invested about $200 million to modernize the facility, the workforce is highly skilled, and we are standardizing operations between our Korean and U.S. plants." Through its U.S. manufacturing base, Celltrion aims to increase accessibility to the U.S. market while reducing trade risks, and to enhance supply stability by producing drug substances (DS) simultaneously in both Korea and the U.S.

Celltrion plans to develop the Branchburg campus into more than just a manufacturing base. The company intends to double DS capacity from 66,000 liters to 130,000 liters, and to establish an 'end-to-end' system by enabling not only drug product (DP) manufacturing but also labeling and packaging at the site.