South Korean drugmakers commit major factory investments for global expansion

Manufacturing investment accelerates

South Korean pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are committing substantial capital to domestic manufacturing as they seek larger positions in global markets and greater control over production. The projects span immunoglobulin, biologic drug substances and finished medicines, eye drops and oral solid products.

Yonhap News Agency reported on August 26 that GC Biopharma, Alteogen, Kukje Pharma and Ahn-Gook Pharmaceutical are among the companies expanding their facilities. The investments differ in scale and product focus, but they share a push to secure capacity before demand develops and competition intensifies.

GC Biopharma targets the US immunoglobulin market

GC Biopharma plans to invest 530 billion won over eight years through 2033 at its Ochang plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. Of that total, 140 billion won is allocated to production infrastructure for subcutaneous immunoglobulin, or SCIG.

The company is targeting a US immunoglobulin market that is understood to be worth about 20 trillion won annually. Its investment decision also reflects an expectation that subcutaneous formulations will account for a growing share of immunoglobulin treatment. Unlike intravenous administration, SCIG is delivered beneath the skin, making the formulation and its production system a distinct part of the market.

GC Biopharma is developing GC5136B, which remains at the preclinical stage. The company plans eventually to submit an investigational new drug application to the US Food and Drug Administration for a Phase 3 clinical trial. The factory spending therefore precedes both the planned regulatory filing and any resulting commercial-scale requirement, linking manufacturing preparation directly to the development program.

Alteogen brings production in-house

Alteogen will invest 253.2 billion won through 2028 to construct manufacturing facilities in Daejeon for active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished medicines. It will be the first proprietary production site for a company that has previously relied on contract manufacturers.

Alteogen owns platform technology designed to convert medicines from intravenous to subcutaneous formulations. The company told Yonhap that it needs manufacturing capacity to expand its biologics business and respond to global markets. A company representative said in-house production had become more important as the product portfolio grew and would allow Alteogen to respond more flexibly to partners.

The project changes Alteogen's operating position as well as its physical capacity. Internal manufacturing can give the company more direct oversight of scheduling and product supply, although the report did not disclose the plant's planned output or commissioning date beyond the 2028 investment horizon.

Eye drops and tablets also gain capacity

Kukje Pharma plans to invest 55.5 billion won through 2029 at its Ansan factory in Gyeonggi Province. The project includes facilities for eye drops and oral solid medicines, together with product storage. The company expects the investment to raise eye-drop output by 133% and substantially expand production of tablets and other solid formulations.

Ahn-Gook Pharmaceutical separately announced a 48.5 billion won expansion of its Hwaseong factory in Gyeonggi Province. Yonhap said the investment was disclosed in the previous month, illustrating that the capacity push extends beyond the two larger biotechnology projects.

The four programs combine development-stage preparation, the internalization of outsourced production and expansion of established pharmaceutical lines. For suppliers, contractors and commercial partners, execution will depend on construction schedules, qualification of the new facilities and, in GC Biopharma's case, progress through the US regulatory process. The disclosed spending nevertheless shows that South Korean manufacturers are committing capital before those commercial outcomes are fully established.