Korea's bio corporations will turn out in force for the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference to be held in San Francisco in January. The event is the world's largest healthcare industry investment conference hosted annually by investment bank (IB) JP Morgan.
According to the industry on the 26th, the 44th JP Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPMHC 2026) will run from Jan. 12 to 15 (local time), with global big pharma and biotech companies including Merck, Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Company, and Novo Nordisk taking part in large numbers to present outlooks such as next year's business plans and mid- to long-term R&D strategies.
From Korea, five corporations—Samsung Biologics, Celltrion, Alteogen, D&D Pharmatech, and HUGEL—have been invited to take the official presentation stage.
Samsung Biologics and Celltrion will present on the "main track" held in the Grand Ballroom of the Westin St. Francis, the main venue. Alteogen, D&D Pharmatech, and HUGEL will present on the "Asia-Pacific (APAC) track," where they plan to showcase each company's technological competitiveness and introduce key research and development and global business plans.
◇ Focus on Samsung Bio's U.S. manufacturing
Samsung Biologics (hereafter Samsung Bio), a biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) corporation, is participating for the 10th consecutive year. This time as well, President John Rim will personally lead efforts on site to attract overseas investment and strengthen partnerships.
In particular, it is expected to be the first opportunity to unveil a global strategy following the acquisition of a U.S. plant. This year, after the partitioning with Samsung Bioepis, which had been its biosimilar (biosimilar) development subsidiary, Samsung Bio signed a deal to acquire U.S. manufacturing facilities held by U.K. drugmaker GSK plc for $280 million (about 414.7 billion won).
The acquirer is the U.S. subsidiary Samsung Biologics America, and the acquisition process is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of next year. Accordingly, at this event President John Rim is expected to present concrete plans for commercial production in Korea and the United States, as well as mid- to long-term business visions.
Many corporations will also attend by invitation without separate presentation slots, or hold business meetings around San Francisco during the event. Working-level staff from Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Yuhan Corporation, Samsung Bioepis, now a subsidiary of Samsung Bioepis Holdings, SK Biopharm, Lotte Biologics, ROKIT Healthcare, MedPacto, Rznomics, ABL Bio, Aprilbio, STCube, Aimed Bio, Orange Biomed, Onconic Therapeutics, and Prestige Biologics will also make the trip.
They aim to expand business opportunities such as partnering, raising investment, and licensing out technology on site. In fact, every year before and after the event, large transactions such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), technology exports, and CDMO orders have poured out. During the week known as "JPM Week," separate gatherings such as meetings of unlisted startups and investment-raising showcases by biotech companies are held at hotels throughout the San Francisco area, packing hotels and restaurants. More than 8,000 investors and businesspeople are expected to attend this year's event.
◇ Celltrion, SK, and Lotte move to strengthen next-generation leadership
This event will also highlight the growing presence of second- and third-generation leaders in Korea's business community.
Celltrion is considering having Chief Executive Seo Jin-seok, the eldest son of Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-Jin, attend alone. In 2024 and in January this year at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, the father and son took the stage together. A company official said, "Seo is leaning toward attending solo and personally handling briefings and meetings."
In March, Chairman Seo missed Celltrion's regular shareholders meeting for health reasons, including recovery following vocal cord surgery. At that time, Seo led the meeting and communicated with shareholders. Some interpreted this as a signal of a full-fledged leadership transition.
According to the industry, Shin Yoo-yeol, executive vice president of LOTTE Corporation and CEO of Lotte Biologics, the eldest son of Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, and Chey Yoon-chung, head of strategy at SK Biopharm and the eldest daughter of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, plan to personally continue working-level meetings with global corporations and investment institutions. SK Biopharm and Lotte Biologics will not have separate presentations.
Company officials hinted, "During the event week, we will conduct back-to-back meetings with affiliates and potential clients, so it will be a very busy business trip."
According to Lotte officials, Executive Vice President Shin Yoo-yeol will work the floor with Lotte Biologics President Park James. Last month, Lotte designated Shin as CEO of Lotte Biologics and shifted to a co-CEO system.
At the last JP Morgan event, SK Biopharm President Lee Dong-hoon and division head Chey Yoon-chung traveled together, with Lee presenting and Chey holding meetings with affiliates, but this time the company is reportedly considering having only Chey attend.
On Dec. 4, SK Biopharm reorganized and appointed Chey as head of strategy. The newly established strategy division integrates the company's core decision-making functions, including companywide mid- to long-term strategy development, business portfolio management, promotion of global growth strategy, and review of new businesses. The company said the aim is to speed up the push for future strategy.
An industry official said, "Both Lotte and SK Group share the trait of making bio a future growth business and putting third-generation members of the owner families at the forefront of bio management," adding, "Success in bio could become a key metric in securing the legitimacy of future succession."