[Report] BIX 2023, Global CDMOs Gather... Tackling the 'Bioeconomic Stagnation' Challenge

On the morning of the 12th, at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, the site of ‘Bio Plus-Interphex 2023 (BIX 2023)’. Even before the event started, a long line of registrants formed at the exhibition entrance to receive visitor badges. Event staff were busy preparing the admission procedures. RX Korea, a co-host, stated, "The number of visitors who pre-registered online increased by about 50% compared to last year."

The 'Bio Plus-Interphex 2023 (BIX 2023)', jointly hosted by the Korea Bio Association and RX Korea, opened on the morning of the 12th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Visitors are waiting at the entrance of the venue to enter.
[Photo by Lee Myunghwan]

More visitors and company representatives gathered at the main venue than in previous years. A representative from a bio company with a booth said, "Last year’s BIX was the first event after the COVID-19 pandemic subsided, so quite a few visitors came, but this year’s event attracted even more visitors," adding, "Since all quarantine measures have been completely lifted, face-to-face meetings have become freer, so many companies and representatives participated."

In particular, global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) set up booths to promote and conduct sales activities targeting visitors and bio companies, drawing attention. The organizers also prepared a special hall for Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMO)/CDMOs, gathering CDMO companies in one place. Switzerland’s Lonza, the global CDMO sales leader, China’s Wuxi Biologics, and Japan’s Fujifilm Life Science had booths here. Among domestic companies, CDMO firms such as STGen Bio and GC Cell also set up booths to welcome visitors. Many bio companies attending the event without their own production facilities could be potential CDMO clients, so these companies provided detailed explanations of their production facilities, technologies, and CDMO cases to visitors.

Booths of participating companies at 'Bio Plus-Interphex 2023 (BIX 2023)'. (Clockwise from the top left) Lonza, Fujifilm Life Science, STGen Bio, Samsung Bioepis.
[Photo by Myunghwan Lee]

Many bio companies also participated. Samsung Bioepis set up a large booth displaying actual biosimilar products and pipelines. At this booth, Samsung Bioepis created a space where visitors could directly experience formulations designed to improve patient dosing convenience, such as prefilled syringes (PFS) and prefilled pens (PFP). To attract attention, visitors were invited to wear specially made gloves that simulate the limited hand movement of rheumatoid arthritis patients and directly administer PFP injections to a human model.

Cold chain logistics companies for biopharmaceutical distribution also stood out. Global logistics firms such as LX Pantos, Envirotainer, and Marken set up a special cold chain logistics hall to introduce their logistics systems. An industry insider explained that interest in cold chain logistics systems increased during the COVID-19 pandemic when Pfizer vaccines were distributed at ultra-low temperatures. So-called ‘bio materials and equipment’ companies producing bio process-related equipment or consumables, such as Sartorius and Cytiva, also attracted participants’ attention by exhibiting their equipment.

'Bio Plus-Interphex 2023 (BIX 2023)' opened on the morning of the 12th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Attendees are listening to a lecture during the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) specialized session held that morning.
[Photo by Lee Myung-hwan]

Not only the exhibition hall but also the conference held at a separate venue was very popular. The conference held in the morning, focusing on major modalities such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) and PROTACs, attracted about twice the seating capacity, with many participants standing during the lectures. Although the organizers hastily provided temporary chairs, many participants still stood, showing high interest.

At the opening ceremony held before the event started, a suggestion was made to overcome the recently frozen funding market through cooperation. Go Han-seung, president of Samsung Bioepis and chairman of the Korea Bio Association, said in his opening remarks, "Many bio companies, including startups, are struggling due to tightened investment funds," emphasizing, "This is an important time when we must unite and solve these challenges together." He added, "I hope that during the three days of the event, we can exchange and share difficulties and hopes," and pledged, "The association will listen to the difficulties of bio companies and convey their intentions to stakeholders to do its best to resolve these challenges as soon as possible."

The opening ceremony was attended by Ju Yong-jun, Director of Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; Lim Jeong-bae, chairman of the Bio Association and CEO of Daesang; and Son Joo-beom, CEO of RX Korea. Nancy Travis, Vice President of International Cooperation at the U.S. Bio Association (BIO), and Ilze Indrikson, Minister of Economics of Latvia, among others, also attended as guests. On the last day of the event, the 13th, Nancy Travis, Vice President of the U.S. Bio Association, will hold a conference on the U.S. Bio Technology and Manufacturing Executive Order and ‘Bio USA 2023 Debriefing.’

The 'Bio Plus-Interphex 2023 (BIX 2023)', jointly hosted by the Korea Bio Association and RX Korea, opened on the morning of the 12th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Participants are taking a commemorative photo at the opening ceremony.
[Photo by Lee Myung-hwan]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.