Samsung Biologics to go big on CDMO at BIO USA 2023

Samsung Biologics will be heavily promoting its capabilities in contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) at the BIO International Convention 2023 (BIO USA) in Boston, which is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Samsung Biologics will open a 167-square-meter (1,798-square-foot) shared booth at the annual event, often called the CES of biopharmaceuticals, to promote its world-leading production capacity. A CDMO engages in the early stages of developing a client’s products and takes charge of mass production.

The company will also showcase its expanded portfolio of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), which are designed as targeted therapies to treat cancer and differ from chemotherapy by sparing healthy cells in the treated areas, a feature that makes some specialists hail them as a next-level technology in cancer treatment.

Samsung Biologics’ ADC-dedicated facility line is under construction and will be up and running in early 2024.

Samsung Biologics started partial operation of its fourth plant, in Songdo, Incheon, which will have a capacity of 240,000 liters (16,3401 gallons) when fully operational later this month. It is the world’s largest single pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.

The company already signed 11 deals with eight global pharmaceutical companies for the fourth plant and is in talks with 26 potential clients.

The latest plant will likely bring the company’s annual production capacity to 604,000 liters, which Samsung Biologics says is equivalent to nearly 30 percent of the global contract manufacturing market for biopharmaceuticals.

Its booth, which will be the second largest at the event, will be decorated with eco-friendly materials to emphasize sustainability, the company said.

Themed “Stand up for Science,” around 15,000 people from 1,500 companies are estimated to visit the BIO USA this year. The event will run for four days through June 8.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]