San francisco: Samsung Biologics Co., the biotech arm of South Korea's Samsung Group, announced plans to potentially build a sixth domestic plant and expand its U.S. facility as part of its growth strategy. This announcement was made during the 2026 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPMHC) held in San Francisco.

According to Yonhap News Agency, John Rim, president and CEO of Samsung Biologics, emphasized that the expansion is aimed at accelerating growth across three key areas: production capacity, product portfolios, and global manufacturing bases. The company currently operates five domestic plants in Songdo, near Seoul, and a manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland.

Samsung Biologics recently acquired a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Rockville from British multinational pharmaceutical firm GSK plc, previously operated by Human Genome Sciences. The acquisition, valued at 413.6 billion won (US$280 million), marks Samsung Biologics' first U.S.-based manufacturing facility. The company plans additional investments to expand the site's production capacity and technical capabilities to meet the increasing global demand for critical biologic medicines.

The company also intends to secure more contract research organization (CRO), contract development organization (CDO), and contract manufacturing organization (CMO) deals to diversify and strengthen its portfolio. In terms of global manufacturing bases, Samsung Biologics aims to expand its production facilities and sales networks within the United States.

Regarding financing the construction of the sixth domestic plant, CEO John Rim stated that no decision has been made about issuing corporate bonds. He noted that the company has significant cash reserves and maintains a low debt-to-equity ratio, suggesting that Samsung Biologics will explore more cost-effective funding options than corporate bonds.