The 2026 BIO International Convention, the world's largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology exhibition, concluded on June 25, local time, with South Korean pharmaceutical and biotech companies accelerating their global market presence. A special session focusing on South Korea was held for the first time, further elevating the status of K-Bio.
According to industry sources on June 26, major domestic companies emphasized their capabilities in contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to drive technology exports and business expansion.
Samsung Biologics set up a 1500-square-foot standalone booth at the exhibition, showcasing its expanded production capabilities, including its Rockville campus in the U.S. CEO John Lim announced at a press conference on June 23 that the company plans to open a European sales office in Amsterdam in the third quarter of this year. Following its expansions in the U.S. and Japan, the company aims to establish a global sales network covering North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Lotte Biologics is preparing to launch its Songdo Plant 1 and sought to secure orders at BIO USA. The company is implementing a 'dual site' strategy that connects its Incheon Songdo facility with its Syracuse campus in the U.S., where initial projects and clinical volumes will be handled in Syracuse, while large-scale commercial production will take place in Songdo. CEO Park James stated, "The approval for the Songdo Plant 1, just two years after construction began, is a result of the capabilities of our employees and the support from the group."
Celltrion has participated in BIO USA for 17 consecutive years since 2010, expanding its global network. This year, it highlighted its AI-based multi-antibody design technology and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) as part of its next-generation drug pipeline.
SK Biopharm announced a collaboration agreement with insilico Medicine for the development of neuroimmune therapeutics, with a contract value of up to 4 trillion won.
Additionally, domestic companies focused on global partnerships centered around cancer and obesity drugs. Onconic Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Jeil Pharmaceutical, is preparing to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand its clinical trials for the next-generation cancer drug candidate, Nesupaparin, based on domestic clinical data. Ildong Pharmaceutical conducted partnering meetings featuring its GLP-1 receptor agonist, ID110521156, targeting obesity and diabetes, and its P-CAB class treatment for peptic ulcers, Padoprazan.
Meanwhile, the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, along with ten domestic organizations including the Korea Health Industry Development Institute and the Korea Bio-Pharmaceuticals Association, operated the Korea Biohealth Hub. The hub featured IR sessions introducing promising domestic companies, with 12 firms, including Huons Lab, participating to showcase their core technologies and pipelines to global pharmaceutical companies and investors, seeking partnership opportunities.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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