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| Samsung Biologics' plant in Songdo, Incheon / Courtesy of Samsung Biologics |
By Baek Byung-yeul
Samsung Biologics has been grappling with a series of attempts to steal its trade secrets as competition is intensifying in contract-based drug development and manufacturing, according to police and industry officials, Monday.
Incheon Metropolitan Police said one of Samsung Biologics' employees was arrested recently for attempting to take company data from a worksite without permission. The police agency said it is investigating the employee on suspicion of stealing trade secrets.
The employee is suspected of trying to leave with company data printed on 300 pieces of A4 paper in December 2022. The documents were related to U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards.
Upon being caught by security guards, the employee was handed over to the police, and Samsung Biologics sued the employee on charges of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act and breach of trust.
"It is difficult to reveal details about the issue because the police investigation is underway," a spokesman of Samsung Biologics said. "We are thoroughly rechecking the internal security system and strengthening systems to protect company information."
Samsung has been struggling with the infringement of trade secrets as employees transferring to its competitors have been attempting to bring proprietary data with them.
In 2022, Samsung Biologics filed an injunction against three employees who transferred to Lotte Biologics to ban them from infringing on trade secrets. These three people had been related to the core business of Samsung Biologics, and it is known that they printed a large number of documents before moving to Lotte.
In response, the Incheon District Court issued the injunction in July 2022, preventing the leaked business secrets of Samsung Biologics to be used by Lotte Biologics.
Also, in October, prosecutors launched an investigation into a Lotte Biologics employee suspected of stealing Samsung's trade secrets.
Lotte Biologics announced its bid to kick off its contract development and manufacturing organization (CMO) business, aiming to become one of the global top 10 players in the field by 2030.
