A large number of South Korean biotech companies are set to participate in the BIO International Convention (BIO USA), the world's largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology exhibition, taking place later this month. The companies aim to showcase their drug development and biomanufacturing capabilities while seeking new customers and strategic partners.
BIO USA will be held for four days from June 22 to 25 (local time) at the San Diego Convention Center in California. The event brings together more than 20,000 industry professionals each year to discuss collaboration opportunities across the global life sciences sector. This year's theme is “The World Can't Wait,” highlighting innovation driven by purpose and urgency.
Biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) will use the event to highlight their production capabilities and pursue new contracts. Among them, Samsung Biologics--the only Korean company to operate a standalone booth at BIO USA for 14 consecutive years--will showcase its expanded manufacturing capacity following the recent acquisition of its Rockville campus in the United States. The company will also emphasize its integrated, customer-tailored services spanning clinical research organization (CRO), contract development (CDO), and contract manufacturing (CMO) offerings.
Lotte Biologics will unveil its Incheon Songdo Bio Campus for the first time at BIO USA, ahead of its scheduled completion in August. The company is focusing on securing new clients by highlighting its large-scale commercial production capabilities and its dual-site strategy, linking the Songdo campus with its Syracuse facility in New York State, USA.
The event will also serve as a platform to showcase advancements in biopharmaceutical efficacy and drug development capabilities. Celltrion will operate a standalone booth at BIO USA, where it will present its key biosimilar products currently sold in the U.S. market, along with its AI-driven technologies applied to new drug development and clinical research.
SK Biopharmaceuticals, which is operating a standalone booth for the second consecutive year, will discuss potential collaborations with global pharmaceutical companies and investors across areas such as research and development (R&D), business development, and new modalities. The company will also promote its AI-driven approaches, including AI-based drug discovery, digital transformation, and patient-centric platforms.
“I will strengthen our global competitiveness by leveraging AI and data to enhance productivity and execution in drug development, and to deliver more therapeutic solutions to patients in need,” said Donghoon Lee, CEO of SK Biopharmaceuticals.
A BL Bio will explore collaboration opportunities related to its blood-brain barrier (BBB) shuttle platform, Grabody-B, as well as its 4-1BB-based bispecific antibody immuno-oncology pipeline. Given that the company signed technology transfer agreements for Grabody-B with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Eli Lilly last year, attention is focused on whether it will secure new global partners at this year's BIO USA.
“We plan to broadly discuss business development opportunities, including long-term partnership building, and strategies for expanding clinical development,” said Sanghoon Lee, CEO of ABL Bio.
Prestige Biopharma aims to advance antibody-based drug partnerships and expand the commercialization of its biosimilars. Kanaph Therapeutics emphasized that it has received partnership meeting requests from more than 20 global pharmaceutical and biotech companies regarding its pipeline of innovative bispecific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) based on human genome research, which are currently under development.
The Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBio) will also operate a Korea Pavilion at BIO USA to support the global expansion of Korean biotech companies. A total of 51 companies will participate in the pavilion, including 26 firms selected by KoreaBio and KOTRA, as well as 25 additional companies supported by organizations such as Seoul Bio Hub, the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, and the Chuncheon Bioindustry Foundation.
“I think BIO USA is the most dynamic arena and battleground for investment and partnership in the global biotech industry,” said Seung-Kyu Lee, Vice Chairman of KoreaBio. “This year, as we are strengthening side programs including the unified Korea Night, we will provide full-scale support so that Korean companies can generate tangible business outcomes with global big pharma and investors.”
