Samsung Biologics Bolsters US Manufacturing Network with GSK Facility Buy

Samsung Biologics has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Human Genome Sciences, a biopharmaceutical manufacturing entity from GSK, for $280 million, marking Samsung Biologics’ first planned manufacturing presence in the United States, the company announced on Dec. 22, 2025. The Rockville, Md. site includes two current good manufacturing practice plants with a combined 60,000 L of drug substance capacity serving both clinical and commercial biologic production. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2026 (1).

For contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), establishing local production in key markets has become a strategic imperative (2). The US remains one of the largest biopharmaceutical markets globally, and domestic production can mitigate risks from trade barriers, tariff structures, and supply chain shocks that have affected foreign producers in recent years (3).

Industry demand for flexible and geographically diversified manufacturing has been growing, as evidenced by Samsung Biologics’ earlier reported plans to significantly expand its global manufacturing footprint through multiple new plants in South Korea, including the commissioning of its fifth plant and service offerings for complex modalities like antibody-drug conjugates (4).

Why is US manufacturing capacity important for bio/pharma supply chains?

Expanding biopharmaceutical production in the US addresses both operational and regulatory factors shaping the industry. Domestic capacity helps reduce lead times, enhances risk mitigation for commercial and clinical supplies, and aligns with evolving expectations from regulators and customers for localized supply chains that can respond quickly to public health needs (3).

The Rockville facility will continue to produce existing products while Samsung Biologics plans additional capital investments to expand capacity and capabilities further. This project aligns with broader industry trends toward flexible manufacturing configurations capable of supporting diverse biologic modalities, from monoclonal antibodies to next-generation modalities (1).

How might this shift impact industry adoption and competitive dynamics?

This acquisition follows the company’s broader organizational evolution, including a spin-off completed in November 2025 that refocused Samsung Biologics as a pure-play CDMO. Such structural shifts are occurring alongside heightened demand for advanced biologic services, including cell and gene therapies and organoid-based platforms (5).

Leaders from both Samsung Biologics and GSK have highlighted the ongoing importance of the facility and future potential. “This landmark acquisition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to advancing global healthcare and bolstering our manufacturing capabilities in the US,” said John Rim, CEO and president of Samsung Biologics, in a company press release (1). “The investment will enable us to deepen our collaboration with federal, state, and local stakeholders to best serve our customers and partners while ensuring a reliable and stable supply of life-saving therapeutics.”

Meanwhile, Regis Simard, president, Global Supply Chain, GSK, stated in the release, “Along with GSK’s recent commitment to invest $30 [billion] in R&D and manufacturing in the US over the next 5 years, this deal enables us to further focus on building the agility, capacity and capability needed in our manufacturing network to deliver the next generation of specialty medicines and vaccines. I am confident in a positive partnership and future for the Rockville site,” Simard added (1,6).

In this context, the acquisition reflects not just a change in ownership but an inflection point for how capacity, supply chain strategy, and market access are being recalibrated in the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing landscape (1). Samsung Biologics plans to retain the existing workforce at the Rockville site, including more than 500 employees, as a central part of the company’s transition strategy.

References

1. Samsung Biologics. Samsung Biologics Expands U.S. Manufacturing Capabilities with Strategic Acquisition of Human Genome Sciences from GSK. Press Release. Dec. 22, 2025.
2. The White House. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China. WhiteHouse.gov. Feb. 1, 2025.
3. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Committee on Security of America's Medical Product Supply Chain. Globalization of US Medical Product Supply Chains in Building Resilience into the Nation's Medical Product Supply Chains; Shore, C., Brown, L., Hopp, W. J., Eds.; National Academies Press, 2022.
4. Samsung Biologics. Samsung Biologics attends BPI 2025. Press Release. Sept. 18, 2025.
5. Samsung Biologics. Samsung Biologics Completes Spin-Off to Strengthen Its Focus as a Pure-Play CDMO. Press Release. Nov. 3, 2025.
6. GSK. GSK to Invest $30 Billion in R&D and Manufacturing in the United States Over Next 5 Years. Press Release. Sept. 17, 2025.