Earlier this month, Samsung Biologics acquired GSK's Human Genome Sciences manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland, for $280 million.
Samsung Biologics
BALTIMORE, MD — South Korean biotech company, Samsung Biologics, yesterday announced plans to open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland.
Earlier this month, the Seoul-based CDMO's [contract development and manufacturing organization] wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, Samsung Biologics America, acquired GSK's Human Genome Sciences manufacturing facility in Rockville for $280 million. The company plans to expand the site’s current drug substance capacity and upgrade the technology to support a growing demand for critical biologic medicines.
As part of the acquisition, Samsung plans to retain more than 500 jobs currently at the site and create additional jobs. The new U.S. facility will include expanded drug substance manufacturing capacity and will be able handle both clinical and commercial production.
According to the company, the facility sits at the center of one of the key U.S. bio-clusters and encompasses two cGMP manufacturing plants with a combined 60,000 liters of drug substance capacity, supporting small to large production.
"The investment will enable us to deepen our collaboration with federal, state, and local stakeholders to best serve our customers and partners while ensuring a reliable and stable supply of life-saving therapeutics," said Samsung Biologics CEO and President John Rim.
In April, Gov. Wes Moore led a Maryland delegation to Japan and South Korea to promote economic growth and workforce development. He addressed two of Korea’s largest business organizations, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency and Korea International Trade Association, and met with Samsung Biologics in Seoul. The governor also held several engagements in Japan to strengthen ties in quantum, life sciences, and artificial intelligence.
The announcement builds on a year of historic foreign direct investment to expand Maryland’s life sciences and biopharmaceutical sectors. Last month, AstraZeneca announced a $2 billion investment to expand manufacturing in Frederick and build a new clinical facility in Gaithersburg, supporting 2,600 jobs. The funds are part of a $50 billion commitment from the drugmaker in U.S. medicine manufacturing and R&D.
Korean biotechnology company Nature Cell has also announced plans to open a stem cell manufacturing facility in Baltimore, creating an estimated 500 new jobs. Finally, Indian pharmaceutical developer Syngene International is also launching its first U.S. manufacturing site in Baltimore, creating 300 jobs.
