[BioUSA] Bio Becomes a 'Security' Battlefield... Samsung Seizes Opportunity with Dual Wings of Production and Development

World's Largest Bio Event
Wuxi, China 'No-Show' Due to Biosecurity Law Sanctions
Domestic Firms Seize Opportunity as a Boon
Samsung Biologics Sets Up Large Booth
Actively Promotes Contract Development and Manufacturing

The 2024 BIO International Convention (BIO USA), considered the world's largest bio event, has resembled a 'battlefield' right from its opening. As the United States, aiming to impose security checks on China, has started sanctioning the Chinese bioindustry through the Biosecurity Act, Korean companies have seized this opportunity to actively attract clients.

Overview of the Samsung Biologics booth set up at the San Diego Convention Center in California, USA, where the 2024 BIO International Convention (BIO USA) was held.
Photo by Lee Chunhee

On the 3rd (local time), the U.S. BIO Association (BIO), the organizer of BIO USA held in San Diego, California, invited former U.S. Special Operations Commander William H. McRaven as the keynote speaker on the morning of the 5th, the third day of the event. The topic was "Why Maintaining U.S. Superiority in Science is Crucial for Security."

Lee Seung-gyu, Vice Chairman of the Korea Bio Association, explained, "Having a military officer as a speaker symbolically shows the U.S. stance of treating the bioindustry as a security issue." At the World Bio Association Committee (ICBA) held the previous day, the Secretary-General of the Taiwan Bio Association was elected as the overall chairman. Regarding this, Vice Chairman Lee said, "The bioindustry has become a political issue targeting China, and we also need to consider how to ensure industrial safety."

In fact, Wuxi Biologics, a Chinese Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), did not participate in this year's BIO USA after being included in the sanctions under the Biosecurity Act. The company had set up a booth at BIO USA in 2022 during the COVID-19 travel restriction period, but this year it failed to overcome political conflicts.

Min Ho-sung, Head of the CDO Center and Sales Center at Samsung Biologics, is explaining about S-Tensify at a press conference commemorating the launch of the new CDO platform held on the afternoon of the 3rd (local time) in San Diego, California, USA, where the 2024 BIO International Convention (BIO USA) is taking place.
[Photo by Lee Chun-hee]

On the other hand, the domestic CDMO industry is expecting to benefit from the U.S.-China conflict and has opened large booths to secure clients. Samsung Biologics actively promoted itself as a CDMO company equipped not only with the world's largest contract manufacturing capacity but also contract development (CDO) capabilities.

From the first day of the event, Samsung Biologics unveiled its new CDO platform, S-Tensify. Min Ho-sung, Head of Samsung Bio CDO Center and Sales Center, explained, "Increasing the number of cultured cells raises the probability of producing antibodies," adding, "It is a technology that concentrates cells to increase the final drug production volume by about 2 to 4 times."

Samsung Biologics exhibited and actively promoted its customer-tailored CDO service, Selectailor, in the most prominent space of its large booth alongside S-Tensify. The entire booth was designed to introduce Samsung Biologics' efforts for sustainable growth, including maintaining the world's largest production scale of 784,000 liters through its 5th plant scheduled for completion in April next year, under the slogan "Fast, Flexible, Customer-Centric." Vice President James Choi said, "We have 85 pre-scheduled meetings and will provide fast and flexible services to all clients, from big pharma to small biotech companies."

Samsung Biologics also reiterated its commitment to the CDMO business related to antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), a global trendsetter in anticancer drugs. With the completion of the ADC CMO facility in Songdo, Incheon, within this year, the CDO business will also be fully launched. Samsung Biologics is collaborating with Swiss Araris, U.S. BrickBio, domestic AimedBio, and LigachemBio through funds established together with group companies.

However, the total number of CDO orders has sharply declined to about four in the past year, compared to double-digit figures in previous years. Center Head Min said, "Since many small companies are involved in CDO, there was an impact from the global bio market contraction," adding, "Currently, the market is recovering mainly in the U.S., so we expect it to become active again to previous levels."

James Choi, Vice President of Sales Support at Samsung Biologics, is introducing the company's new CDO platform at the Samsung Biologics promotional booth set up at the San Diego Convention Center, where the 2024 BIO International Convention (BIO USA) is being held on the afternoon of the 3rd (local time).
[Photo by Chunhee Lee]

Lotte Biologics is also adding ADC production facilities to its existing Syracuse, U.S. plant and is actively attracting clients through the bio campus under construction in Songdo, Incheon. Kang Joo-eon, Head of Business Planning, said, "We are receiving inquiries from potential clients who want to cut ties with Chinese CDMOs," and added, "We expect the U.S. Biosecurity Act to be a long-term positive factor." Lotte Biologics has already scheduled about 25 to 30 meetings, with additional on-site inquiries from global pharmaceutical companies and ADC-specialized firms continuing.

Meanwhile, ST Pharm, which specializes in cell and gene therapy CDMO and attended BIO USA, said, "We are receiving more consultation inquiries than in previous years," adding, "The impact of the Biosecurity Act is definitely present."

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