[BIO USA] K-Bio Gathers in San Diego... Showcasing CDMO and New Drug Competitiveness

BIO USA, the World's Largest Bio Exhibition, Opens in San Diego on June 22

Over 350 Korean Companies and Organizations Participate


Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, and Others

Showcase Competitiveness in CDMO and Drug Development

"We have over 100 pre-scheduled meetings. On-site at BIO USA, you can really sense the changing status of K-Bio."

This comment came from a representative of Samsung Biologics participating in the 'BIO International Convention (BIO USA) 2026', which opened on June 22, 2026 (local time) in San Diego, California. At this, the world's largest bio exhibition, more than 350 domestic companies and institutions have gathered. With the U.S. Biosecurity Act, which took effect at the end of last year, accelerating the shift away from Chinese supply chains and intensifying competition in AI drug development, the window of opportunity for Korean bio companies is wider than ever. From CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) orders to AI-driven drug discovery partnerships, the scope of Korean bio's involvement has expanded more than ever before.

On the 22nd (local time), the area near the convention center, the venue for the world's largest bio partnering event, BIO International Convention 2026, held in San Diego, California, USA, is bustling with representatives from participating companies and organizations.

BIO USA is the world's largest bio partnering event, held annually and organized by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) in the United States. This year, under the theme "Driven by Purpose," the event runs for four days until June 25, bringing together over 20,000 industry professionals from more than 76 countries to discuss partnerships, investment, and technology collaboration.

Supply Chain Restructuring: "Decoupling from China" Heats Up the CDMO Order War

The most closely watched sector at this year's BIO USA is undoubtedly the CDMO industry. The U.S. Biosecurity Act, which took effect at the end of last year, restricts the procurement of equipment and services from "high-risk bio companies" deemed threats to national security. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is required to publish a list of these high-risk bio companies within a year of the law's enactment, and major Chinese CDMO firms such as WuXi Biologics and CL Biologics are expected to be included. As global pharmaceutical companies accelerate discussions to restructure their supply chains, insiders report that the competition among domestic CDMO companies to fill the gap began even before the event opened.

The Samsung Biologics booth at the '2026 BIO International Convention (BIO USA)', the world's largest bio and pharmaceutical exhibition, which opened on the 22nd (local time) in San Diego, USA. Photo by Minjae Kwak

Hall F, at the heart of the exhibition center. The large Samsung Biologics booth, spanning 140 square meters (about 42 pyeong) and adorned in blue, occupied the spot with the highest foot traffic. Upon entering, all the meeting rooms were already filled with "guests," thanks to the fact that about half of the booth's area was dedicated to business meeting spaces. A video showcasing the company's production system played on the walls, and along the booth's perimeter were displays introducing Samsung Biologics' customized CDO (Contract Development Organization) services, their end-to-end solutions that take candidate substances from discovery to market, and the recently acquired Rockville campus in Maryland, USA. There was also a video zone introducing 'ExcellenS™,' the manufacturing standardization platform, and an interactive area where visitors could experience content related to organoid services. The company also put significant effort into boosting brand exposure, installing over 170 banners along Harbor Drive between San Diego Airport and the convention center, and running digital banner video ads at four main lobbies inside the exhibition hall, increasing its presence both inside and outside the venue.

James Choi, Executive Vice President of Sales Support at Samsung Biologics, is explaining Samsung Biologics' production capabilities and strengths at the exclusive Samsung Biologics booth set up at the BIO USA event on the 22nd (local time in the U.S.). Photo by Minjae Kwak

James Choi, Executive Vice President at Samsung Biologics, told reporters, "Because this event attracts many start-ups and biotech companies seeking development and contract services in the bio industry, we are focusing on showcasing our service capabilities to these target clients." He added, "This year, we are especially highlighting 'ExcellenS™,' which centers on applying the same production equivalency system across all sites, from Incheon Songdo plants 1 through 5 to Rockville in the U.S. It is a concept that condenses 15 years of know-how, and we plan to maintain this equivalency as we expand to plant 6 as well."

The Lotte Biologics booth located at the world's largest bio-pharmaceutical expo, the 2026 BIO International Convention (BIO USA), which opened on the 22nd (local time) in San Diego, USA. Photo by Minjae Kwak

Lotte Biologics also set up an independent booth this year, putting its "Dual Site" strategy front and center. The company, which has participated for five consecutive years since 2022, is emphasizing the linkage between Songdo and Syracuse as its core message for this event. Under its dual-site system, the Syracuse Bio Campus in New York handles early clinical supplies, while Songdo Plant 1 is in charge of large-scale commercial production, allowing the company to flexibly handle everything from small-scale projects to mass commercial orders. The booth features a lounge and private meeting rooms for visitor interaction, as well as in-booth presentations introducing the company's vision and business capabilities. There are also participatory events related to ADCs (antibody-drug conjugates). Jeon Ji-won, Head of Strategic Planning at Lotte Biologics (Executive Director), said, "Now that we are GMP-ready for commercial production, discussions with global big pharma companies about actual products are becoming more concrete, and meeting requests are increasing. We are also receiving many inquiries about visiting our ADC-related campus in Syracuse, USA."

AI Drug Development Emerges as an Independent Pillar

Alongside the CDMO order battle, AI-driven drug development has emerged as a new key topic at this year's event. While AI was mentioned only as an add-on in previous years, this year it warranted independent sessions and dedicated booths, reflecting its elevated status. Celltrion, which has participated in BIO USA for 17 consecutive years, set up a standalone booth of about 139 square meters in the AI Zone this year. Based on its accumulated R&D, production, and commercialization capabilities in biosimilars, Celltrion aims to expand global partnerships in next-generation technology areas such as AI-powered drug discovery, ADCs, and multi-specific antibodies. The booth features exhibits such as AI-based novel target identification and next-generation multi-specific antibody design technologies, candidate substance development feasibility evaluation, and data-driven research platforms.

The Celltrion booth located at the "2026 BIO International Convention (BIO USA)," the world's largest bio and pharmaceutical expo, which opened on the 22nd (local time) in San Diego, USA. Photo by Minjae Kwak

The partnering atmosphere is intense. During the event, an estimated 150 to 200 meetings are expected, with 120 already pre-scheduled. According to the company, there is strong global interest ranging from collaborations on biosimilar and new drug pipelines to meetings with companies that can integrate AI technology into their business areas. A Celltrion representative said, "The number of visitors is increasing each year, and competitive companies continue to request meetings. We plan to actively communicate our vision of growing from a biosimilar company into a global new drug developer to the world market."

The SK Biopharm booth located at the world's largest bio-pharmaceutical exhibition, the 2026 BIO International Convention (BIO USA), which opened on the 22nd (local time) in San Diego, USA. Photo by Minjae Kwak

SK Biopharm, which is operating a standalone booth for the second consecutive year, introduced its AI-driven drug discovery and R&D digital transformation strategy under the theme "AI for Every Patient." The company outlined its plans to utilize AI across the entire value chain, focusing on AI-powered drug discovery, R&D digital transformation, and patient-centric platforms. Notably, SK Biopharm announced at this event that it had entered into a research and development collaboration agreement with Insilico Medicine, a generative AI-based drug development company, to develop therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This agreement, worth up to $2.57 billion, aims to leverage Insilico's AI drug discovery platform, Pharma.AI, to reduce the candidate identification period by nearly 50% compared to previous methods.

Third-Generation Conglomerate Leaders Absent from This Year's BIO USA

Meanwhile, Shin Yooyeol, CEO of Lotte Biologics, who attended BIO USA last year, did not make an appearance at this year's event. The company explained that this was due to other business travel commitments, but industry insiders noted that it is unusual given the timing, as securing major orders is critical ahead of the Songdo plant's completion. In addition, Choi Yoonjung, Executive Vice President of SK Biopharm, was also absent, reportedly due to both a change in her position—from Head of Business Development to Head of Strategy—and overlapping commitments. Since BIO USA is primarily focused on business development (BD), changes in job responsibilities are said to have influenced attendance as well.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.