Kyongbo Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Chong Kun Dang, said on the 15th that it recently built an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) research center in Yongin to produce preclinical research samples and held an opening ceremony.
Kyongbo Pharmaceutical's ADC research center in Giheung-gu, Yongin, covers about 2,925 square meters and is equipped with a full-cycle ADC contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) system, from drug substance (DS) for preclinical testing to Korea's first finished goods (DP) production line. It plans to begin production in early 2026.
In particular, when the ADC production plant under construction in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, with an investment of about 85.5 billion won is completed, it will be able to produce samples for phase 1–3 clinical trials as well as ADC finished goods from the end of 2027. The company expects to build a one-stop supply chain for ADC medicines from preclinical research to commercialization.
Kyongbo Pharmaceutical plans to systemize its ADC platform at the ADC research center through ADC process development, scale-up for mass production, and preclinical sample manufacturing, and to establish a system that enables stable and efficient technology transfer to client companies.
The DS pilot production facility was designed with a flexible structure to accommodate both single-use and multi-use systems. The DP production facility will operate as a closed system to prevent any exposure to the outside, from vial filling to lyophilization, to enhance quality and safety.
Kyongbo Pharmaceutical CEO Kim Tae-young said, "The ADC research center is the only ADC CDMO facility in Korea that supplies everything from drug substances for preclinical use to finished goods," adding, "together with the ADC production plant, we will build a one-stop supply chain to reduce the time and cost burdens for domestic ADC developers and bio-startups to produce clinical samples in China, the United States, and Europe, thereby contributing to Korea's pharmaceutical and bio industries."