Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin, right, speaks during a Q&A session of the company's main track presentation at J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference 2025 in San Francisco, Tuesday (local time). At left is Celltrion CEO Seo Jin-seok. Courtesy of Celltrion

Korea's top biopharmaceutical firms, Celltrion and Samsung Biologics, envisioned their future strategies for expansion at J.P.Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM) 2025 in San Francisco, Wednesday.

During its main track presentation at the conference, Celltrion unveiled its drug pipelines and medium-term business strategy, stressing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and multi-specific antibody therapeutics as the two new growth driver that will boost its expansion from a biosimilar-focused company.

ADCs are viewed as one of the most promising markets for global drug makers, as they provide significant advantages over traditional cancer therapies. They selectively target cancer cells and deliver highly potent drugs directly to minimize damage to normal cells.

To leverage on ADCs' potential, Celltrion highlighted its CT-P70 and CT-P71 ADC candidates, which are described as "biobetter" due to their improved adaptation of the originator biologics. CT-P70 is a non-small cell lung cancer treatment and CT-P71 is for bladder cancer.

The company also plans to focus on developing multi-specific antibody drugs that selectively target cancer cells or are activated only under specific conditions, including CT-P72.

With this pipeline, Celltrion plans to submit 13 investigational new drug applications by 2028, including nine ADC candidates and four multi-specific antibodies. Of them, CT-P70 and CT-P71 will finish the application process by the end of this year.

"We plan to develop not only biosimilars but also a wide range of novel drugs, in order to ensure many patients can access biopharmaceuticals at reasonable prices," Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin said.

"By leveraging our rapidly expanding product portfolio, we will enhance the company's future value and transform into a global novel drug developer, delivering the high growth that our investors expect."

Samsung Biologics CEO John Rim speaks during the company's main track presentation at J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference 2025 in San Francisco, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of Samsung Biologics

Samsung Biologics, Korea's leading contract development and manufacturing organization, also held its main track presentation, with CEO John Rim revealing the firm's future strategy, highlighted by a plan to build its sixth plant.

During the presentation, Rim said Samsung Biologics' fifth plant will be completed in April this year, lifting the company's total production capacity by 180,000 liters to 784,000 liters per year.

Also, the CEO said Samsung Biologics is now "considering" the construction of a sixth plant to proactively respond to the rising demand for biologics. Under the plan, the sixth plant will be completed by 2027 with a 180,000-liter capacity, raising the firm's total production capacity to 964,000 liters, though it requires board approval.

To improve its sales network, the company also announced plans to open a regional office in Tokyo this year to strengthen partnerships with clients in Japan and other Asian countries.

Along with Celltrion, Samsung Biologics also highlighted its ADC as its new growth driver. The company noted that it completed a dedicated ADC facility last month to expand its portfolio to cover the promising area.

Samsung Biologics recently expanded its collaboration with LigaChem Biosciences to support a series of ADC programs at its new dedicated ADC facility and plans to set up a dedicated production line for completed ADC drugs by the first quarter of 2027.

"Despite industry challenges, Samsung Biologics is well positioned to kick-start a new phase of growth in 2025 with the opening of Bio Campus II and launch of ADC services," Rim said. "We'll continue to invest in new modalities and technologies to better address client needs, maximizing satisfaction and ensuring the delivery of highest-quality products."

Meanwhile, another Korean biotech, SK Biopharmaceuticals, signed a deal with Brazil's Eurofarma to set up a joint venture in the U.S. to develop an epilepsy treatment platform based on artificial intelligence (AI).

The joint venture is based on SK Biopharmaceuticals' AI technology for brainwave analysis and wearable brainwave monitoring devices. Through the collaboration, SK Biopharmaceuticals said it aims to accelerate the commercialization of its AI-driven epilepsy management solution.