"We are reassessing what the real threats facing the United States are, what medical countermeasures are needed to respond, and how much we must stockpile. We will provide clearer investment signals to industry going forward."Mark O’Neill, senior advisor, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
As supply chains are being reorganized following the enactment of the U.S. biosecurity law and competition in artificial intelligence (AI) drug development heats up, Korean bio corporations launched large-scale bidding for CDMO orders and technology export negotiations at BioUSA (BIO International Convention 2026), the world's largest biotech partnering event.
The event, which opened on the 22nd (local time) at the San Diego Convention Center in California, runs for four days through the 25th under the theme "Driven by Purpose." More than 20,000 industry officials from over 76 countries are attending to discuss partnerships, investment, and technology cooperation.
Korea sent a delegation of about 350 corporations to the venue this year. Samsung Biologics, Lotte Biologics, and Celltrion are seeking to expand contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) orders, while innovative biotechs are pursuing technology export opportunities with global big pharma.
For the first time, this year's event includes an official session spotlighting Korea's biotech industry, "Korea Rising: Don't Be Late to Asia's Next Innovation Hub." It is expected to be a venue to introduce to global pharmaceutical companies and investors the competitiveness of Korean corporations' bispecific antibody and autoimmune disease platforms, CDMO manufacturing infrastructure, and venture ecosystem.
◇ CDMO order race amid China-plus-one supply chain reorganization… AI competition also in full swing
The biggest focus is on the large standalone booth section. As moves spread to reduce reliance on Chinese CDMO corporations such as WuXi Biologics in the United States, competition to secure production volumes from global pharmaceutical companies was reportedly intense even before the event opened.
Samsung Biologics, which has operated a standalone booth for 14 consecutive years since its founding, set up a 140-square-meter exhibition space at the center of the venue this year. It is seeking to win new customers by highlighting its global manufacturing network linking the recently acquired Rockville campus in Maryland with its Songdo, Incheon facilities and its plan to start up Plant 5 ahead of schedule. It also strengthened brand exposure by installing more than 170 outdoor banners along Harbor Drive connecting the venue and the airport.
Lotte Biologics also put its "dual-site" strategy at the forefront, linking the Songdo Bio Campus Plant 1, slated for completion in August, with its Syracuse, U.S., plant. The company has been building a dedicated ADC manufacturing facility within the Syracuse plant and is pushing to establish an integrated production system that produces antibody drug substance in Songdo and carries out ADC processing in the United States.
Celltrion set up a standalone booth in the "Digital Health & AI Zone" and will unveil its AI-based drug development capabilities for the first time. Dong-A Socio Group will run a joint booth for Dong-A ST, ST Pharm, and BTGEN to introduce to global clients its nucleic acid-based CDMO business and active pharmaceutical ingredient supply capabilities.
SK Biopharmaceuticals, operating a standalone booth for the second consecutive year after last year, will unveil its AI-based drug discovery and research and development digital transformation strategy under the theme "AI for Every Patient." The industry is focusing on SK Biopharmaceuticals' AI business strategy as cooperation between SK Group and Nvidia expands.
"The next phase of AI in the life sciences will not be a single model but multiple specialized AI agents collaborating to solve complex biological problems. From designing drug candidates to lab automation and optimizing clinical trials, AI will fundamentally change the speed and economics of drug development."Stacy Callard-Thompson, head of business development for pharmaceutical research institute and manufacturing at Nvidia
◇ Innovative biotechs knock on big pharma's doors… heading out with ASCO and ADA data
Korean biotechs are meeting with global big pharma armed with the latest clinical data unveiled at major conferences such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA). In the industry, there are expectations that this year's BioUSA could be a watershed for large technology transfer deals.
One of the corporations drawing attention is ABL Bio. The company will unveil the latest research results for its blood-brain barrier (BBB) shuttle platform "Grabody-B," which it has successively licensed to GSK and Eli Lilly and Company, as it seeks to expand additional partnerships. CEO Lee Sang-hun said, "As R&D data accumulates, we clearly feel that interest has grown not only from existing partners but also from new corporations," adding, "We will do our best to deliver meaningful results."
Curacle, partnering with antibody specialist Maptics, will advance global commercialization discussions based on phase 2b results for the diabetic nephropathy treatment "CU01." The two companies, which forged ties at last year's BioUSA, previously sealed a technology transfer deal worth 1.56 trillion won.
Onconic Therapeutics is putting forward its dual-target anticancer drug "Nesuparib." On the 23rd, CEO Kim Jon will personally take the corporate presentation stage.
◇ Obesity, autoimmune, and ADC all-out… pharmaceutical companies also go all-in on global partnering
Traditional pharmaceutical companies are also moving to find global partners by putting forward next-generation pipelines. They are seeking technology export and co-development opportunities in areas drawing intense global market interest, including obesity, autoimmune diseases, and ADCs.
Ildong Pharmaceutical is testing the waters for a technology export for its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist "ID110521156." Hanmi Pharmaceutical is exploring collaboration possibilities with its non-incretin obesity drug candidate "HM17321" and its GLP-1/GIP/glucagon receptor triple agonist "HM15275."
Daewoong Pharmaceutical is presenting a formulation differentiation strategy that combines TionLab Therapeutics' "Qject Sphere" platform with its own "Cure" platform to develop a once-monthly semaglutide injection. Yuhan is advancing "Lesigercept," a long-acting IgE-suppressing allergy drug candidate, while HK inno.N is working to expand the global reach of its gastroesophageal reflux disease treatment "K-CAB."
"As of the 8th of this month, 35,000 partnering meetings have already been booked. By the end of the event, we expect a record-breaking total exceeding 70,000 meetings."Mackenzie Burnetti, executive vice president for partnering, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
The Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association (KPBMA), the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) are operating the Korea Pavilion to support the global expansion of domestic corporations. At the pavilion, where 51 corporations and institutions are housed, presentations introducing pipelines and research and development (R&D) achievements will be held throughout the event.
Despite overlapping internal and external factors, the industry expects this year's BioUSA to generate more business opportunities than in previous years. Noh Yeon-hong, president of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association (KPBMA), said, "Through cooperation among related institutions, we will further strengthen the global competitiveness of Korea's pharmaceutical and bio industry."