Korean Biopharma Leaders Target Global Partnerships at BIO 2026 in San Diego
核心洞察
Samsung Biologics returns for its 14th consecutive year, showcasing 845,000 liters of total manufacturing capacity and its newly acquired Rockville, Maryland plant.
Celltrion marks its 17th appearance with a dedicated AI zone, promoting AI-driven drug discovery, antibody conjugates, and multispecific antibodies as next-generation growth engines.
For the first time, BIO International Convention hosts an official Korea-focused session titled "Korea Rising: Don't Be Late to Asia's Next Innovation Hub."
A contingent of South Korea's leading biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies has descended on San Diego for the BIO International Convention 2026, one of the world's largest biotechnology exhibitions, with ambitions to expand global partnerships and secure new contracts. The event, also known as Bio USA, is expected to draw over 20,000 attendees from more than 70 countries.
Samsung Biologics, participating for the 14th consecutive year, has established a prominent 140-square-meter booth at center stage. The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) leader will showcase its end-to-end services throughout the four-day event, highlighting its recently acquired plant in Rockville, Maryland — purchased from GSK for $280 million — and its 60,000-liter drug substance capacity. Combined with its Incheon facilities in Korea, Samsung Biologics' total manufacturing capacity now reaches 845,000 liters, reinforcing its leadership position in the global CDMO market.
Celltrion, marking its 17th consecutive appearance at the convention, returns with a standalone booth featuring a dedicated artificial intelligence zone. The company is promoting not only its established biosimilar portfolio but also its expanding drug development capabilities and AI-driven research initiatives. A Celltrion official stated, "During the event, Celltrion will look to actively promote the company's future business vision and technological capabilities on the global stage as it is taking a leap into becoming a global new drug developer beyond a biosimilar maker." The official added, "We will expand global partnering based on our next-generation growth engines such as AI-based new drug development platform, antibody conjugates and multispecific antibodies, exploring meaningful business opportunities that can lead to Celltrion's mid- to long-term growth and enhancing our corporate value."
SK Biopharmaceuticals (搜索) has positioned itself within the event's digital health and AI zone, operating under the slogan "SK, AI for Every Patient." The company is exploring cooperation across research, business development, and new modalities, emphasizing how it leverages artificial intelligence for drug discovery, digitalization of R&D and business operations, and its patient-centered platform.
Lotte Biologics (搜索) is unveiling photographs and videos of its first plant in Songdo, Incheon, slated for completion in August, underscoring the CDMO firm's dual-site capabilities alongside its Syracuse, New York facility — acquired from Bristol Myers Squibb (搜索) for $160 million in 2022. The company will conduct three in-booth presentations covering its collaboration with Asimov, a cell development organization; scale-up strategies employing computational fluid dynamics technology for improved efficiency; and digital manufacturing capabilities.
In a historic first for the global biotechnology convention, an official session dedicated to Korea's biotechnology industry will take place. Titled "Korea Rising: Don't Be Late to Asia's Next Innovation Hub," the discussion will feature representatives from Samsung Biologics, the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBio), Boehringer Ingelheim, KB Investment, Ildong Pharmaceutical, and ABL Bio (搜索).
KoreaBio's country pavilion will spotlight 51 Korean biotechnology companies, presenting their key pipelines, platform technologies, and R&D achievements through an open stage format. Lee Seung-gyu, vice chair at KoreaBio, remarked, "Bio USA is a battleground where the global biotech industry's investment and partnering take place most vigorously." He added, "As we have bolstered interrelated programs including Korea Night, we will provide full support so that Korean firms can achieve tangible business outcomes with global big pharmaceutical companies and investors."