[JPM 2026] Samsung's Distinct U.S. Strategy: More Client Options, Enhanced Korean Plant Efficiency

Samsung Biologics, Lonza, and Fujifilm:
Big 3 CDMOs Announce Strategies at JPMHC
Samsung Biologics: "Production Hub Remains Korea... Rockville Is an Option"
Lonza and Fujifilm Pursue Large-Scale U.S. Production Over 300,000 Liters

Samsung Biologics, Lonza, and Fujifilm, recognized as the 'Big 3' global CDMOs (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations), took the stage together at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPMHC), the world's largest bio-investment event, to reveal their U.S. production strategies.

Samsung Biologics' Acquisition of Rockville... All Big 3 Secure U.S. Production Bases

Since geopolitical risks in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, such as tariffs and the enactment of the Biosecurity Act, have come to the forefront, Lonza and Fujifilm have been focusing on establishing large-scale production capacities exceeding 300,000 liters. In contrast, Samsung Biologics has emphasized securing local production bases as part of supply chain diversification.

According to industry sources on January 16, with Samsung Biologics' completion of its acquisition of the Rockville plant in Maryland, all three major CDMOs now have local U.S. bases. Their combined production capacity currently stands at 550,000 liters and could expand to 750,000 liters through future facility expansions.

Samsung Biologics opted for the solution closest to an 'immediate option.' The Rockville facility is reported to have a current drug substance (DS) production capacity of 60,000 liters. With additional investment, this capacity can be expanded to 100,000 liters. During his main track presentation at JPMHC, CEO John Lim described the acquisition of the Rockville facility as "the starting point for securing U.S. production capabilities," and stated, "In addition to our large-scale production platform centered in Songdo, Korea, we will support our clients' supply chain diversification and resilience by offering production options in the United States as well." This acquisition is thus interpreted as providing clients with more 'options' rather than shifting the center of production to the U.S.

John Lim, CEO of Samsung Biologics, is giving a presentation on the main track stage at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference held on the 13th (local time) at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, California, USA. Samsung Biologics

Lonza and Fujifilm Pursue Mega-Scale Production of Over 300,000 Liters in the U.S.... Samsung's Approach Differs

Lonza's approach to 'acquisition' differs in its details. In 2024, Lonza acquired the Vacaville production facility in California from Roche. The Vacaville plant is a large-scale DS facility with a capacity of approximately 330,000 liters. During his JPMHC presentation, Lonza CEO Wolfgang Wienand announced plans to invest an additional 500 million Swiss francs (about 914.6 billion won) to enhance automation and flexibility, stating that they would not simply retain Vacaville but upgrade it for flexible CDMO operations.

Fujifilm's strategy centers on 'greenfield' (newly built plants) expansion. The company is pursuing greenfield expansion in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The plan is clear: install eight 20,000-liter bioreactors in the first phase, add another eight in the second phase, and reach a total of 16 units (320,000 liters) by 2028. The second-phase investment alone is estimated at 1.2 billion dollars (about 1.7637 trillion won).

During his JPMHC presentation, Fujifilm Biotechnologies CEO Lars Petersen expressed a competitive stance regarding Samsung Biologics' U.S. plant acquisition, stating, "It is not an event that will change demand." He emphasized, "All companies are focusing on the U.S. market, but we want to highlight that we are building our own systems rather than acquiring external facilities."

Fujifilm's Holly Springs plant has adopted a 'modular' expansion approach, adding necessary blocks sequentially in response to demand changes. Instead of building a fully completed large-scale plant at once, the process, equipment, and utilities are designed in standardized units, allowing for rapid addition of identical modules whenever expansion decisions are made. While greenfield-based expansion offers the long-term advantage of consistent quality and operational standards, the time required for construction and validation remains a challenge. Although the U.S. government, particularly under the Donald Trump administration, is currently encouraging local production, future geopolitical conditions remain uncertain and could change significantly in the coming years.

Concentrated Production Capacity in Songdo, the Foundation of Overwhelming Profitability... Why Samsung Leads CDMO Market Cap

Samsung Biologics' consolidated production capacity in Songdo, Incheon, far surpasses that of other CDMOs. By concentrating facilities, water and air conditioning systems, core infrastructure, quality management systems, workforce, and logistics in a single location, fixed costs are distributed more efficiently. As order volume increases, unit costs decrease, enabling true economies of scale. In particular, the efficiency of the Korean base is considered much higher than that of U.S. or European plants, where construction, energy, and labor costs are significantly higher. While Lonza and Fujifilm have dispersed their production bases across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, Samsung has concentrated its production capacity in Rockville and Songdo.

With the completion of its fourth plant (605,000 liters), Samsung had already earned the title of the world's largest biomanufacturing site. With the operation of its fifth plant, current capacity is 784,000 liters, and by 2032, including Rockville, it will reach an 'unrivaled' 1,385,000 liters. An industry insider explained, "When production bases are scattered across different countries or regions, there are more variables in technology transfer, validation, and quality control. Major pharmaceutical companies, when contracting for DS production, look not only at current capacity but also at additional capacity that can be made available. Samsung Biologics consistently increases its production capacity, providing clients with a wide range of options."

This difference in production capacity is also reflected in market capitalization. As of the closing price on January 15, Samsung Biologics' market capitalization stood at approximately 90.9617 trillion won. After its spin-off and relisting as a 'pure CDMO,' Samsung Biologics' stock price has soared, and it is expected to reach a market cap of 100 trillion won soon. Lonza's market cap is about 57 trillion won, and Fujifilm's is about 38 trillion won.