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Photo: Honorary Chairman Seo Jung-jin, courtesy of Celltrion |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL – Celltrion Group is pushing forward with the acquisition of a U.S.-based drug substance manufacturing facility to establish a full-scale “one-stop system” covering production and sales in the North American market, effectively eliminating tariff uncertainties.
During an online briefing on July 29, Honorary Chairman Seo Jung-jin revealed that Celltrion has been selected as the preferred bidder for a U.S. facility which owns its own API production capacity. He confirmed the final purchase agreement is expected by October, with around KRW 700 billion needed for acquisition and operational establishment.
The target plant—located within a leading U.S. pharmaceutical cluster—houses a large-scale cGMP-compliant facility and has a track record of producing major biologics, including oncology and autoimmune disease treatments.
Subject to due diligence and U.S. regulatory approval, Celltrion intends to complete the acquisition by year-end 2025, and begin making its own products at the site by fourth quarter 2026.
This move liberates Celltrion from protracted tariff uncertainty affecting international biopharma imports. It complements prior strategic efforts—such as relocating two years’ worth of inventory to the U.S. and expanding contract manufacturing operations—to shore up U.S. access. The acquisition forms the final piece in its long-term tariff mitigation plan.
Chairman Seo has consistently underscored the urgency of securing a U.S.-based production hub in order to sustain growth. North American sales surged in 2023 to KRW 1.045 trillion, up from approximately KRW 700 billion in prior years, making up 33.6% of total revenue.
Celltrion is poised to expand its U.S. biosimilar portfolio, currently counting 11 marketed products, with plans to grow to 22 by 2030 and 41 by 2033, led by its new drug Zympentra (Remsima SC).
AlphaBIZ Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
