J.P.Morgan Healthcare Conference / Captured from J.P.Morgan website

Korean contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) are set to engage with global drugmakers at the upcoming J.P.Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM) 2025 in San Francisco, seeking to expand their client base at the biotech industry's biggest investment fair.

CDMOs provide a range of services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, from early-stage drug development to commercial manufacturing.

The 43rd annual JPM 2025 will be held at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco from Jan. 13 to 16. The event will bring together leading pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, as well as investors, to explore future deals.

Among Korean biotechs and drugmakers, Samsung Biologics, Celltrion and Lotte Biologics are set to participate in the symposium to showcase their capabilities in contract development and manufacturing.

Samsung Biologics CEO John Rim speaks during a main track speech at the 42nd J.P.Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, Jan. 9, 2024. Courtesy of Samsung Biologics

Samsung Biologics, attending the event for the ninth consecutive year, will showcase its industry-leading capacity as a CDMO by highlighting its fifth plant, which will be completed in April with a capacity of 180,000 liters.

Once the plant begins operations, the company's total manufacturing capacity will reach a world-leading 784,000 liters per year, surpassing global competitors such as Lonza Group and WuXi Biologics.

During the symposium, Samsung Biologics is expected to showcase its capabilities in commercial production of antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), while outlining the company's future strategies to investors. Samsung Biologics is currently constructing a dedicated ADC production facility in Incheon west of Seoul, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Samsung Biologics set a new earnings record last year, surpassing 5 trillion won ($3.59 billion) in cumulative orders for 2024 for the first time in the company's history. Given the significance of track records for CDMOs, there is growing anticipation that the company will continue to achieve further growth this year, with JPM 2025 serving as the first step toward that goal.

Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin, second from right, speaks during the 42nd J.P.Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, Jan. 10, 2024. Courtesy of Celltrion

Celltrion, known for its biosimilar drugs, is expected to use JPM 2025 as a stage to promote its new CDMO unit to investors and clients.

In December, Celltrion established a new subsidiary, Celltrion BioSolutions, as part of the company's efforts to resume its contract development and manufacturing business.

Celltrion BioSolutions is now reviewing sites to construct its first manufacturing facility in Korea, with the aim of securing 200,000 liters of production capacity to manufacture various products, including antibody-drug conjugates and cell and gene treatments.

Based on its strong track record by successfully launching various biosimilar products in major advanced markets such as the United States and Europe, Celltrion said it has already confirmed significant demand from multiple clients even before venturing into the CDMO business.

Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin projected that sales from contract manufacturing will reach 500 billion won by 2029 and increase to 1 trillion won by 2030, with an additional 500 billion won in sales from contract development.

JPM 2025 presents a key opportunity for Lotte Biologics as well.

Founded in 2022, the company is gaining attention as Lotte Group's next potential cash cow, though it has yet to secure substantial orders.

To jumpstart its stagnant order log, Lotte Biologics is investing 4.6 trillion won to build three manufacturing plants and other facilities in Incheon. Once completed in 2034, the company's manufacturing capacity will rise to 400,000 liters, a significant increase from its current capacity of 40,000 liters.

Against this backdrop, attention is turning to the strategy of the company's new CEO James Park. Having led Samsung Biologics' global sales from 2015 to 2022, he joined Lotte Biologics last month to address the company's urgent need to secure orders from clients.