South Korea's Samsung Biologics announced that it is acquiring its first US drug production facility from GSK for $280 million to respond ‌to long-term ‌US market demand.

The company's US unit, Samsung Biologics ‌America, is acquiring a 100 percent stake in Human Genome Sciences Inc of Rockville, Maryland, the South Korean contract drug manufacturer said in a statement.

Samsung Biologics plans additional investments to expand the site's capacity, currently a combined 60,000 ICT liters of drug substance capacity, and ‍to upgrade technology, it says.

It adds ‌that the acquisition value may change when the deal closes, likely around the end of the first quarter of 2026.

South Korea's Celltrion is also planning to produce drugs in the US, where the Trump administration has threatened to levy tariffs on pharmaceuticals.

Under a ‍deal with the United States, tariffs on US imports of South Korean pharmaceuticals will be no greater than 15 percent, while generic drugs will be tariff-free.

Samsung Biologics says that the US acquisition would strengthen its global manufacturing footprint and improve proximity to major pharmaceutical clients, particularly those seeking domestic production to mitigate supply-chain and regulatory risks.

The company has been expanding aggressively to position itself as a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO).

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The Maryland facility will complement Samsung Biologics’ existing operations in South Korea, where it operates multiple large-scale biomanufacturing plants. With rising demand for biologics and biosimilars, the company expects US-based capacity to enhance flexibility and shorten delivery timelines for North American customers.

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Industry analysts note that the move aligns with a broader trend among Asian drugmakers establishing manufacturing bases in the US amid increasing geopolitical and trade uncertainties. Local production is also seen as a strategic response to evolving US policies aimed at boosting domestic pharmaceutical supply chains.

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Samsung Biologics says it remains committed to pursuing further global expansion opportunities, including potential acquisitions and capacity investments, as it targets long-term growth in biologics manufacturing and seeks to compete with established global CDMO players.