Samsung Biologics
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA global biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization serving drug developers from late discovery through commercial-scale production.
Last updated October 14, 2026
Overview
Samsung Biologics Co., Ltd. is a South Korean biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) headquartered in Songdo, Incheon, and operating as the biotechnology arm of Samsung Group. Established in 2011, the company was created to build large-scale biologics manufacturing capabilities and has since developed into one of the world’s largest providers of outsourced biologics development and production services. Its business spans a broad portion of the biopharmaceutical value chain. Services extend from late-stage discovery support and cell-line development through process development, clinical manufacturing, regulatory support, technology transfer, commercial production, aseptic fill-finish, packaging and labeling. The company’s principal technology focus has been biologic medicines, especially monoclonal antibodies, but its capabilities also include bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), mRNA-related manufacturing services and other advanced modalities. Samsung Biologics generally operates as a business-to-business manufacturing and development partner rather than as a consumer-facing pharmaceutical brand. The company’s growth has been driven by a combination of capacity expansion, standardized manufacturing systems and long-term relationships with multinational drug companies. It has worked with or announced partnerships involving Pfizer, GSK, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche and Moderna. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Samsung Biologics supported Moderna’s Spikevax supply chain through fill-finish, packaging and labeling work. It also manufactured Eli Lilly’s COVID-19 antibody treatment and AstraZeneca’s long-acting antibody therapy under broader commercial arrangements. Samsung Biologics built four manufacturing plants between 2011 and 2023. Those facilities had a combined stated capacity of 605,000 liters. Construction of a fifth plant began in Incheon in 2023, adding a planned 180,000 liters and bringing the stated total capacity to 785,000 liters when included. In March 2025, the company began operating a dedicated ADC manufacturing facility in Songdo, extending its manufacturing portfolio beyond conventional antibody production. The company has also expanded its commercial reach through offices in New Jersey and Boston, which support customers in the United States, and a Tokyo office intended to strengthen relationships with Japanese pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Samsung Biologics has pursued vertical and adjacent expansion through Samsung Bioepis, a biosimilar developer originally established in 2012 as a joint venture with Biogen. Samsung Biologics acquired Biogen’s remaining interest in 2022 and subsequently completed the separation of Samsung Bioepis from the manufacturing business. In 2021, Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis and Samsung C&T helped establish the Samsung Life Science Fund, managed by Samsung Ventures, to invest in emerging areas including gene therapy and ADC technologies. The company also develops proprietary platforms intended to improve biologics discovery, expression and manufacturing. These include S-CHOice for cell-line expression, S-DUAL for bispecific antibodies and DEVELOPICK for candidate-material selection and development support. Additional platform names include S-CHOsient, S-AfuCHO, S-Tensify, S-Glyn, S-OptiCharge and S-HiCon. In 2025, Samsung Biologics introduced ExellenS, a manufacturing framework designed to standardize plant design, equipment, processes and operating specifications across facilities, with the aim of making technology transfers, regulatory interactions and production outcomes more consistent. Sustainability and responsible business have become part of the company’s corporate positioning. Samsung Biologics issued its first annual sustainability report in 2021, joined or participated in initiatives such as RE100, the United Nations Global Compact, the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initi…
History
Samsung Biologics was founded in 2011 as Samsung Group’s entry into biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Its initial strategic objective was to apply Samsung’s experience in large-scale industrial operations, quality systems and technology management to the production of biologic medicines, an area in which pharmaceutical companies increasingly outsourced manufacturing to specialist providers. The company established its principal manufacturing base in Songdo, Incheon, an industrial and biotechnology cluster near Seoul. In 2012, Samsung Biologics joined with Biogen to establish Samsung Bioepis. The venture focused on biosimilar medicines, while Samsung Biologics concentrated primarily on contract development and manufacturing. The relationship gave Samsung exposure to biosimilar development and commercialization while helping establish a broader life-sciences presence within the Samsung group. In 2022, Samsung Biologics purchased Biogen’s remaining interest in Samsung Bioepis for approximately $2.3 billion and later completed the separation of the biosimilar business from the manufacturing company. The company’s manufacturing footprint expanded rapidly. Four plants were built between 2011 and 2023, reaching a combined stated capacity of 605,000 liters. The facilities were designed to support development, clinical supply and commercial production for large-molecule biologics. In 2023, Samsung Biologics began construction of a fifth Incheon plant with planned capacity of 180,000 liters. Including that expansion, the company described its total manufacturing capacity as 785,000 liters. In March 2025, it began operations at a dedicated Songdo facility for antibody-drug conjugates, a modality that combines antibody targeting with cytotoxic payloads and requires specialized manufacturing capabilities. Customer relationships became a central part of Samsung Biologics’ growth. The company developed partnerships with major pharmaceutical groups including Roche and Bristol-Myers Squibb in the early 2010s, followed by agreements involving GSK, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca and Moderna. In 2020, Samsung Biologics and GSK entered an eight-year biologics manufacturing agreement valued at approximately $231 million, including production of therapies such as Benlysta. A second GSK agreement announced two years later was reported at approximately $296 million. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Samsung Biologics supported Moderna’s Spikevax through fill-finish, packaging and labeling services. It also manufactured Eli Lilly’s COVID-19 antibody therapeutic and AstraZeneca’s long-acting antibody treatment. The company continued to pursue large commercial contracts after the pandemic. In June 2023, it announced a $411 million agreement with Pfizer to manufacture products in Pfizer’s biosimilar portfolio. The following month, two further Pfizer agreements were announced with a combined reported value of $897 million, covering biosimilars in areas including oncology, inflammation and immunotherapy. Samsung Biologics also expanded its work with smaller biotechnology companies. In 2023, it entered a multi-year arrangement with European venture-capital firm Kurma Partners to provide development, manufacturing and risk-reduction support to portfolio companies. In February 2024, it partnered with LigaChem Biosciences, formerly known as LegoChem Biosciences, to provide antibody development and drug-substance manufacturing services for an ADC pipeline. The company also announced a contract manufacturing agreement with an unnamed Asian pharmaceutical company valued at 1.7 trillion won. Samsung Biologics has invested in proprietary technologies to support both customers and internal manufacturing processes. S-CHOice, introduced in 2020, is a cell-line expression technology. S-DUAL, launched in 2022, supports bispecific antibody development, while DEVELOPICK is intended to help select candidate materials for new drug programs. The company subsequently added platforms known as S-CHOsient, S-AfuCHO, S-Tensify, S-Glyn, S-OptiCharge and S-HiCon. In 2025, it launched ExellenS, a manufacturing framework intended to make plant design, digital systems, equipment specifications and operating procedures more uniform across its network. International expansion has accompanied capacity growth. Since 2020, Samsung Biologics has maintained U.S. offices in New Jersey and Boston to work more closely with customers on both coasts. In 2025, it opened a Tokyo regional office and acquired Human Genome Sciences production facilities in Rockville, Maryland from GSK, establishing its first U.S. production site. The company has also used the Samsung Life Science Fund, created in 2021 by Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis and Samsung C&T and managed by Samsung Ventures, to support emerging technologies such as gene therapies and ADCs. Sustainability reporting became more formalized in 2021, when Samsung Biologics published its first annual sustainability report. It was later included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and received the Sustainable Market Initiative’s 2022 Terra Carta Seal. In 2023, it received a CDP leadership score of A− and an EcoVadis Platinum rating. The company participates in initiatives including RE100, the United Nations Global Compact, the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative and climate-related disclosure programs. Labor relations became a prominent issue in 2026, when the company’s union reportedly had 3,689 members, representing approximately three-quarters of the workforce. A reported 95.52% of members voted to strike, citing alleged unfair labor practices, unauthorized use of employee personal data and structural concerns about the company’s ESG policies. In July 2026, Samsung Biologics also announced a planned acquisition of Swiss peptide CDMO PolyPeptide Group for approximately 1.46 billion Swiss francs. The proposed transaction was described as the largest merger and acquisition in South Korea’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, although completion was expected later in 2026.
- 2025
Dedicated ADC facility begins operations
[1]A dedicated antibody-drug conjugate manufacturing facility in Songdo began operations.
- 2023
Fifth manufacturing plant construction begins
[1]Samsung Biologics began construction of a fifth Incheon plant planned to add 180,000 liters of manufacturing capacity.
- 2022
S-DUAL and DEVELOPICK are launched
[1]The company introduced platforms for bispecific antibody development and candidate-material selection.
- 2022
Samsung Biologics acquires full ownership of Samsung Bioepis
[1]Samsung Biologics bought Biogen’s remaining stake in Samsung Bioepis for approximately $2.3 billion.
- 2021
Samsung Life Science Fund is created
[1]Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis and Samsung C&T established the Samsung Life Science Fund, managed by Samsung Ventures.
- 2020
S-CHOice platform is introduced
[1]Samsung Biologics introduced S-CHOice, a cell-line expression technology for biologics development.
- 2012
Samsung Bioepis joint venture is formed
[1]Samsung Biologics and Biogen established Samsung Bioepis as a biosimilar-medicine development venture.
- 2011
Samsung Biologics is established
[1]Samsung Group founded Samsung Biologics in South Korea to develop a major biologics contract development and manufacturing business.
Products and positioning
A globally integrated, high-capacity biopharmaceutical CDMO focused on reliable development, scale-up and commercial manufacturing for complex biologic medicines.
Biopharmaceutical CDMO services · 2011
Contract development and manufacturing services
Samsung Biologics provides outsourced support across biologics development and production, including cell-line development, process development, clinical supply, commercial manufacturing, technology transfer and regulatory assistance. Its customers include large pharmaceutical companies and development-stage biotechnology companies. The service model is designed to take programs from late discovery or development through scalable manufacturing rather than selling a single branded medicine directly to patients.
Biologic medicines
Monoclonal antibody manufacturing
Monoclonal antibodies are a core manufacturing category for Samsung Biologics. The company supports customers with development and large-scale production of antibody drug substances and finished products, including commercial biologics. Its facilities and process systems are designed for the quality, scale and regulatory requirements associated with global pharmaceutical supply.
Advanced biologics technology · 2022
Bispecific antibody platforms
Samsung Biologics develops and supports bispecific antibody programs through technologies including S-DUAL. Bispecific antibodies are engineered to bind two targets or biological pathways and can require specialized expression, characterization and manufacturing approaches. The platform forms part of the company’s effort to extend beyond conventional monoclonal-antibody production.
Advanced biologics manufacturing · 2025
Antibody-drug conjugate manufacturing
Samsung Biologics expanded into ADC manufacturing through a dedicated Songdo facility that began operations in 2025. ADCs combine a targeting antibody with a linked drug payload and therefore require capabilities covering antibody production, conjugation, purification and quality control. The service is intended for customers developing or commercializing this increasingly important oncology and specialty-medicine modality.
Nucleic-acid medicine manufacturing
mRNA vaccine manufacturing services
Samsung Biologics has supported mRNA vaccine supply chains through fill-finish, packaging and labeling services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it partnered with Moderna on work related to Spikevax. The company’s mRNA-related offering complements its larger biologics CDMO business and broadens the types of pharmaceutical manufacturing programs it can support.
Cell-line development technology · 2020
S-CHOice
S-CHOice is a cell-line expression technology introduced by Samsung Biologics in 2020. It is intended to support the development of productive cell lines for biologic medicines and to improve the transition from molecule development to manufacturing. The platform is part of the company’s proprietary technology portfolio for customer programs.
Drug-development support platform · 2022
DEVELOPICK
DEVELOPICK is a Samsung Biologics service and technology platform for selecting candidate materials in new-drug programs. It is intended to help development teams evaluate and advance promising candidates before or alongside downstream manufacturing work, thereby connecting early development decisions with later process and production requirements.
Manufacturing framework · 2025
ExellenS
ExellenS is a manufacturing framework launched in 2025. It codifies Samsung Biologics’ experience in facility design, digitalization, equipment selection, process definition and operations. By using common specifications and standardized practices across plants, the framework is intended to simplify technology transfers, support regulatory approval and produce more consistent outcomes across manufacturing sites.
Controversies
2026
Union strike vote and workplace allegations
Samsung Biologics’ union reportedly held a strike vote in which 95.52% of members supported industrial action. The union cited alleged unfair labor practices, unauthorized use of employee personal data and structural concerns regarding the company’s ESG policies. The available reference describes allegations and a vote, not a final legal finding.
Brand decisions
2026
Announce planned acquisition of PolyPeptide GroupM&ABackground
Samsung Biologics sought to broaden its CDMO capabilities into peptide manufacturing.
Action taken
The company announced a planned acquisition of Swiss peptide CDMO PolyPeptide Group through a majority-shareholder purchase followed by a tender offer.
Aftermath
Completion was expected by the end of December 2026, subject to the proposed transaction process.
Proposed acquisition value. Approximately CHF 1.46 billion (2026)
2025
Enter dedicated ADC manufacturingProduct launchBackground
Antibody-drug conjugates were becoming a major advanced-biologics category requiring specialized manufacturing capabilities.
Action taken
Samsung Biologics began operations at a dedicated ADC manufacturing facility in Songdo.
Aftermath
The move broadened the company’s service portfolio beyond conventional antibody production.
2025
Launch ExellenSStrategyBackground
A growing global manufacturing network created a need for common design and operating standards.
Action taken
Samsung Biologics launched ExellenS, a framework standardizing plant, equipment, digitalization and operational specifications.
Aftermath
The framework was intended to make customer technology transfers, regulatory processes and production results more consistent.
2025
Acquire Human Genome Sciences production facilitiesM&ABackground
Samsung Biologics sought a physical manufacturing presence in the United States to support local customers and supply requirements.
Action taken
It acquired Human Genome Sciences drug-production facilities in Rockville, Maryland from GSK.
Aftermath
The transaction established Samsung Biologics’ first U.S. production site.
Acquisition value. $280 million (2025)
2023
Expand manufacturing capacity with Plant 5StrategyBackground
Growing demand for outsourced biologics production required additional commercial-scale capacity.
Action taken
Samsung Biologics began construction of a fifth plant in Incheon with planned capacity of 180,000 liters.
Aftermath
When combined with the company’s existing facilities, the stated total capacity was expected to reach 785,000 liters.
2021
Create the Samsung Life Science FundStrategyBackground
The Samsung life-sciences businesses sought exposure to emerging technologies beyond established biologics manufacturing.
Action taken
Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis and Samsung C&T created the Samsung Life Science Fund, managed by Samsung Ventures.
Aftermath
The fund’s stated areas of interest included gene therapies, ADCs and other next-generation life-sciences technologies.
2012
Establish Samsung Bioepis with BiogenM&ABackground
Samsung Biologics sought a position in biosimilar development alongside its emerging manufacturing business.
Action taken
It formed Samsung Bioepis as a joint venture with Biogen.
Aftermath
Samsung Biologics later acquired Biogen’s remaining shares in 2022 and completed the separation of Samsung Bioepis from the manufacturing business.
Recent events
- 2026
Samsung Biologics announces planned acquisition of PolyPeptide Group[1]
M&A
The company announced a planned acquisition of Swiss peptide CDMO PolyPeptide Group through a stake purchase and tender offer, subject to completion of the proposed transaction.
- 2025
Samsung Biologics begins operations at dedicated antibody-drug conjugate facility[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The company began operations at a dedicated ADC manufacturing facility in Songdo, expanding its services into antibody-drug conjugate production.
- 2025
Samsung Biologics opens Tokyo regional office[1]
Other
Samsung Biologics opened a regional office in Tokyo to support relationships with Japanese pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
- 2025
Samsung Biologics acquires U.S. production facilities from GSK[1]
M&A
The company acquired Human Genome Sciences drug-production facilities in Rockville, Maryland, establishing its first U.S. production site.
- 2025
Samsung Biologics launches ExellenS manufacturing framework[1]
Product launch
Samsung Biologics introduced ExellenS, a standardized framework covering plant design, digitalization, equipment, processes and operations.
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