Samsung Biologics Expands U.S. Manufacturing Footprint Through Strategic Acquisition

South Korea–based CDMO leader Samsung Biologics is strengthening its global manufacturing network with a major expansion into the United States, signaling continued momentum in biologics production and supply chain localization.

Samsung Biologics’ U.S. subsidiary has entered into an agreement to acquire GlaxoSmithKline’s former Human Genome Sciences manufacturing campus in Rockville, Maryland, for $280 million. The transaction marks Samsung Biologics’ first manufacturing site in the U.S. and represents a strategic move to support growing demand for advanced biologics and pharmaceutical products.

The Rockville campus includes two pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities with a combined 60,000 liters of drug substance capacity. The site is equipped to support both clinical and commercial production across small- and large-scale operations, enabling the manufacture of a wide range of pharmaceutical products for global markets.

Samsung Biologics confirmed that it will continue producing pharmaceutical products currently manufactured at the site while also investing in future capacity expansion and technology upgrades. These investments are intended to enhance operational efficiency and contribute to a more resilient U.S. supply chain for critical biologic pharmaceutical products.

The company also plans to retain more than 500 employees at the Rockville location, ensuring continuity of expertise and operational stability. The transaction is expected to close toward the end of the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

GSK previously acquired Human Genome Sciences in 2012 for approximately $3.6 billion, following a period of collaboration between the two companies. Commenting on the transaction, GSK’s leadership emphasized that the divestment supports long-term supply chain resilience while ensuring uninterrupted access to important pharmaceutical products for U.S. patients.

For the global CDMO landscape, Samsung Biologics’ U.S. expansion underscores a broader industry shift toward regionalized manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, driven by supply chain security, regulatory considerations, and increasing biologics demand.