Seoul: Samsung Biologics Co. is ramping up its expansion in Japan, the world’s third-largest pharmaceutical market, after securing contracts with half of the country’s top 10 pharmaceutical and biotech firms, according to a report by Pulse, the English service of Maeil Business Newspaper Korea.
“We have signed contracts with four of Japan’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies and are in final negotiations with another,” Samsung Biologics CEO John Rim said at BioJapan 2025 in Yokohama on Thursday.
“BioJapan is a key platform for us. To broaden our client portfolio from the global top 20 to the top 40 pharma companies, partnerships with Japanese firms are essential. That’s why we set up a Tokyo sales office and deployed a dedicated sales team,” Rim added.
Japan ranks third globally after the U.S. and Europe, with advanced capabilities in antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) and cell and gene therapies (CGT).
Citing Research and Markets, the report noted that Japan’s contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.8%, from USD 12.3 billion in 2023 to USD 19.5 billion by 2030.
“The demand for CDMO services in Japan continues to grow, and our partnerships with leading Japanese pharmaceutical firms are expanding,” Rim said, adding that Samsung Biologics is concentrating on antibody and ADC projects while strengthening client relationships through direct engagement.
The company recently revised its annual revenue growth forecast upward from 20–25% to 25–30%, projecting this year’s revenue at approximately 6 trillion won (USD 4.23 billion), compared to 4.55 trillion won in 2024.
On potential expansion into the U.S., Rim adopted a cautious approach amid tariff and cost concerns. “We are continually assessing the U.S. market, and the likelihood of entry is higher than it was two or three years ago. However, with labor and construction costs more than 70% higher than in Korea, we must carefully evaluate demand, tariffs, and process efficiency before proceeding,” he said.
Samsung Biologics’ newly launched Plant 5 incorporates advanced automation and artificial intelligence technologies, further strengthening its smart manufacturing infrastructure.
