From Capacity Upgrades to Tech Licensing: Global Strategies of Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, and Alteogen

The annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference held in San Francisco each January serves not only as a bellwether for the global biopharma industry but also as a platform where prominent companies from around the world showcase their capabilities and vie for partnerships, funding and licensing opportunities alongside potential M&A deals. At the recently concluded 44th edition (JPM 2026), while the activities of Western giants captured global attention, the rising influence of APAC players was also undeniably significant. Taking Korea as an example, five high-profile companies received invitations to present at the main venue of the conference this year. Among them, industry leaders Samsung Biologics and Celltrion secured spots on the main track, while Alteogen—the largest biotech company by market cap on Korea’s KOSDAQ market—joined D&D Pharmatech and Hugel in the APAC track.

These developments demonstrate that the Korean biotech industry is evolving beyond its established role as a CDMO powerhouse, emerging as a hub where both manufacturing and innovation thrive in parallel. This article focuses on Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, and Alteogen, synthesizing company press releases along with Korean media coverage to uncover the latest strategic directions and vision unveiled by these three biotech giants at JPM 2026.

Samsung Biologics: Cementing CDMO Dominance through Capacity and Technology

Over its 15-year history, Samsung Biologics has risen to become the world’s largest CDMO manufacturer of biologics by production capacity. This year marks the 10th consecutive year of participation in the main venue of the JPM conference, sharing the stage with Big Pharmas like GSK, AstraZeneca, and Eli Lilly. CEO John Rim emphasized in his presentation that the company will pursue comprehensive growth across three key dimensions — capacity upgrades, portfolio optimization, and geographic expansion—to further cement its leading position in the global CDMO market.

Regarding capacity expansion, Samsung’ Plant 5 at the Songdo Campus, with an annual manufacturing capacity of 180,000 liters, commenced full operations in April 2025, increasing the overall campus capacity to 785,000 liters. Following the acquisition of two US cGMP facilities in Maryland from GSK in December 2025, the company’s global production capacity increased further to 845,000 liters. 

Rim stated that the company is developing the Bio Campus II in Songdo, which will include new plants and an Open Innovation Center. In particular, Plant 6, with a capacity of 180,000 liters like Plant 5, is scheduled to begin construction in 2026. This initiative not only expands the company’s production scale but also aims to attract more promising biotech companies as partners to explore new business opportunities.

Beyond traditional monoclonal antibodies, Samsung Biologics is responding to demand for next-generation modalities through diversifying its service portfolio. The company’s dedicated ADC facility, completed in late 2024, is now operational and poised to take on full-scale orders by 2026, capturing the explosive growth in the oncology sector. Additionally, the company continues to bolster its technical capabilities in “antibody-X conjugate (AXC)”, cell and gene therapies, and mRNA therapeutics, aiming to offer a comprehensive “one-stop” service platform.

Geographic Expansion and Financial Milestones

Geographically, Samsung Biologics has expanded beyond its Songdo headquarters, establishing regional sales offices in New Jersey and Tokyo to operate closer to major clients in the West and Japan. Financially, bolstered by a stable influx of orders, market estimates suggest the company became the first Korean biotech firm to surpass 5 trillion KRW (about $3.4 billion) in annual revenue in 2025. This robust financial health provides a strong foundation for its continued high-level capital expenditures.

Beyond this, in response to the overarching trend of digital transformation, John Rim also mentioned that the company is leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI and digital twins to establish a smart manufacturing environment and optimize its bioprocesses. By implementing data-driven decision-making mechanisms, the company is significantly enhancing operational efficiency, manufacturing productivity and product quality.

Celltrion: From Biosimilars to Innovative Drugs

While manufacturing was the primary focus for Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, as Korea’s leading biosimilar company, highlighted “innovative drugs” and “the U.S. market” as their key themes at JPM 2026. CEO Seo Jin-Seok and Senior Executive Vice President Lee Hyuk-Jae presented the company’s innovative drug R&D pipeline and upcoming market expansion initiatives during the company presentation on the main track.

Regarding their core biosimilars business, Celltrion aims to commercialize 18 products by 2030 and expand this lineup to 41 products by 2038. Seo further noted that the company keeps expanding its ADC and multi-specific antibody (msAbs) pipelines, bringing more candidates into clinical-stage development to create long-term value. Specifically, they plan to submit 16 new drug IND applications to the FDA by 2028, including 10 ADCs targeting solid tumors and 4 msAb therapeutics.

To support these innovative drug developments alongside its biosimilar business, Celltrion is expanding its U.S. manufacturing hub in New Jersey. Acquired from Eli Lilly in September 2025 for approximately $330 million, the facility currently operates with an annual drug substance (DS) production capacity of 66,000 liters. The company will subsequently invest an additional approximately 700 billion KRW (about $480 million), aiming to double the facility’s capacity by 2030 and expand its local operations to cover facility construction and drug production for finished drug products (DP). According to Lee, this acquisition aims to ensure supply chain stability in the long run, mitigate risks associated with trade disputes and tariffs, and enhance the company’s competitiveness in the U.S. market.

Alteogen: The KOSDAQ Heavyweight Redefining Drug Delivery with ALT-B4

Alteogen is the most valuable biotech firm listed on Korea’s KOSDAQ market, with a market capitalization of $18.8 billion (as of the JPM Week 2026). Jeon Tae-Yeon, who took over as CEO from his previous role as Vice President at the end December 2025, emphasized in his presentation that the company is committed to developing into a global biotech firm with full in-house capabilities spanning R&D, production, and commercialization.

The Daejeon-based company wields its proprietary enzyme technology platform, Hybrozyme, which powers the development of its recombinant human hyaluronidase product, ALT-B4. This innovation has positioned Alteogen as a sought-after collaboration partner among major global pharma companies. The standout feature of ALT-B4 involves temporarily breaking hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) in the extracellular matrix of subcutaneous tissue, briefly clearing the barrier that impedes the penetration of liquids and macromolecular drugs (such as anti-cancer ADCs). This enables drugs that previously required intravenous administration to be delivered via subcutaneous injection instead, drastically reducing administration time from hours to minutes, thus improving convenience and treatment adherence. Jeon mentioned that the Hybrozyme platform is broadly applicable to various biologics, and the company will pursue expanding its therapeutic applications to secure additional licensing agreements.

Alteogen’s Major Collaborations and Future Growth Initiatives

As of January 2026, Alteogen has signed tech transfer licensing agreements involving ALT-B4 with at least six pharma companies, including global giants such as GSK, AZ, Merck (MSD), and Daiichi Sankyo. Jeon Tae-won added that the company is currently in licensing discussions with approximately 10 companies and expects to announce new major deals in the near term.

Following Alteogen’s turnaround to profitability in 2024, coupled with new collaborations and milestone payments from existing agreements, Jeon expressed confidence in maintaining stable cash flow and growth momentum. The company aims to expand its current portfolio of three commercialized products to at least nine by 2030, while boosting innovative capabilities through internal R&D and open innovation.

(Updates: On January 20, Alteogen announced an expanded collaboration with GSK, signing an exclusive licensing agreement with GSK subsidiary Tesaro to develop and commercialize a subcutaneous formulation of Dostalimab (a PD-1 blocking antibody) using ALT-B4. Under the terms of the agreement, Tesaro will acquire world-wide rights to use ALT-B4 and Alteogen will receive an upfront payment of $20 million, with additional milestone payments tied to R&D, regulatory, and commercialization milestones, potentially bringing the total transaction value to $285 million.)

The Collective Leap of K-Bio

In retrospect, JPM 2026 Week highlighted the evolution of Korean biotech beyond CDMO and generic drug manufacturing. Whether through high-profile presentations by leading companies on the main track or the recent “2026 K-Bio Global Partnership” venture investment showcase, the sector is progressing toward a multifaceted landscape that fosters both manufacturing and innovation. By exporting cutting-edge technologies and pioneering first-in-class therapies, Korea is cementing its position as a key player within the APAC and global biopharma ecosystem.

Author

Richard Chau