Samsung Biologics Expands U.S. Manufacturing Capabilities with Strategic Acquisition of Human Genome Sciences from GSK

Rhea-AI Summary

Samsung Biologics announced that its U.S. subsidiary will acquire 100% of Human Genome Sciences from GSK (GSK), securing Samsung Biologics' first U.S. manufacturing site in Rockville, Maryland.

The Rockville facility comprises two cGMP plants with a combined 60,000 liters drug substance capacity; closing is anticipated toward the end of Q1 2026 for USD 280 million. Samsung Biologics will retain > 500 employees and plans further investments to expand capacity and upgrade technology to support clinical and commercial biologic production and U.S. supply‑chain resilience.

Positive

• USD 280M acquisition price for Rockville assets
• Adds a U.S. site with 60,000 liters drug substance capacity
• Retention of > 500 employees to preserve operations
• Closing targeted by end of Q1 2026 for quick integration
• Expands Samsung Biologics global capacity footprint (785,000 liters across five plants)

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Rockville asset sale USD 280 million Consideration for Samsung Biologics acquisition of Human Genome Sciences site

Rockville capacity 60,000 liters Current drug substance capacity at the Rockville manufacturing site

Retained employees More than 500 employees Staff to be retained at Rockville facility post-transaction

Global capacity 785,000 liters Samsung Biologics total capacity across five plants

U.S. investment plan $30bn GSK’s stated R&D and manufacturing investment in the US over 5 years

Plants at Rockville Two cGMP plants Number of cGMP manufacturing plants at the Rockville site

Closing timeline End of Q1 2026 Anticipated closing for Samsung Biologics’ Rockville acquisition

Bio Campus plants Five plants Number of plants contributing to 785,000-liter capacity

Market Reality Check

$49.63 Last Close

Volume Volume 3,280,698 is below the 20-day average of 3,949,425 (relative volume 0.83). normal

Technical Price $48.61 is trading above the 200-day MA of $40.89.

Peers on Argus

GSK is up 0.66% alongside peers BMY, SNY, PFE, GILD and AMGN, which show gains between 0.56% and 2.56%, indicating broadly positive large-cap pharma sentiment.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 16	FDA drug approval	Positive	-0.1%	US FDA approval of Exdensur for severe eosinophilic asthma.
Oct 23	FDA drug approval	Positive	+2.9%	FDA approval of Blenrep combination in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
Oct 01	Vaccine data tool	Positive	+5.4%	Expansion of Vaccine Track to 387 metros with decade-long data.
Jul 27	R&D partnership deal	Positive	-1.4%	Hengrui partnership with $500M upfront and up to $12B milestones.
Jul 24	Brand awareness deal	Neutral	+0.5%	Sponsorship of 2025 National Senior Games for RSV awareness.

Pattern Detected

Recent GSK news often sees price gains on positive announcements, though some major positive R&D or partnership updates have coincided with mild negative reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the last six months, GSK’s news flow has centered on respiratory and oncology approvals, vaccine analytics, partnerships, and brand initiatives. FDA approvals for Exdensur and Blenrep in October–December 2025 delivered important clinical milestones, with Blenrep’s approval aligning with a 2.89% gain. A July 2025 Hengrui collaboration involving up to $12 billion in milestones saw a modest decline, while a Vaccine Track expansion on Oct 1, 2025 preceded a 5.44% rise. Today’s asset divestiture to Samsung fits GSK’s ongoing focus on supply chain and portfolio shaping.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details GSK’s divestiture of its Rockville manufacturing site to Samsung Biologics for USD 280 million, with more than 500 employees retained and 60,000 liters of capacity changing hands. It complements GSK’s broader $30bn US R&D and manufacturing investment plan and continues a pattern of portfolio and network optimization. Investors may watch how GSK reallocates capital, maintains supply chain resilience, and balances external partnerships with internal capabilities in future updates.

Key Terms

cdmo technical

"Samsung Biologics (KRX: 207940.KS), a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), today announced"

A contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) is a company that provides specialized services to help develop and produce pharmaceutical products for other businesses. Think of it as a contract factory that takes a company's recipe and makes the product on their behalf. For investors, CDMOs are important because they support the growth of pharmaceutical companies and can be key partners in bringing new medicines to market.

cGMP technical

"encompasses two cGMP manufacturing plants with a combined 60,000 liters of drug substance capacity"

cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) are government-enforced quality standards that manufacturers must follow to ensure drugs, medical devices, and related products are made consistently, safely, and meet specified quality tests. For investors, cGMP compliance is like a restaurant passing health inspections: it reduces the risk of product recalls, regulatory fines, or production stoppages that can hurt revenue and company value, and it supports market access and long-term trust.

monoclonal antibodies medical

"portfolio spanning monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), mRNA, organoid-based services"

Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins designed to bind a single, specific target on cells or viruses, like identical keys cut to fit one lock. They are used as medicines, tests, or targeted delivery tools and can precisely block or mark disease processes. Investors care because they can become high-value drugs with large sales, long patent protection, and binary risks tied to clinical trial results, regulatory approval, manufacturing scale and pricing.

antibody-drug conjugates medical

"portfolio spanning monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), mRNA, organoid-based services"

A class of targeted cancer medicines that combine a lab-made antibody (which finds and sticks to specific markers on tumor cells) with a powerful cell-killing drug linked together so the toxic payload is delivered directly to the tumor. Think of it like a guided missile that reduces collateral damage compared with traditional chemotherapy; for investors, success or failure of these drugs drives clinical, regulatory and commercial value and can sharply affect a biotech company’s prospects and stock price.

adcs medical

"portfolio spanning monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), mRNA, organoid-based services"

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are targeted cancer medicines that combine an antibody, which seeks out specific markers on tumor cells, with a powerful drug payload that is released once the antibody binds its target. Think of them as a guided missile that delivers a toxic package directly to diseased cells to limit harm to healthy tissue. Investors watch ADC news closely because clinical trial results, manufacturing complexity and regulatory decisions can sharply change a biotech company’s value.

mrna medical

"portfolio spanning monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), mRNA, organoid-based services"

mRNA, short for messenger ribonucleic acid, is a biological molecule that carries instructions from a cell’s genetic blueprint to make specific proteins — like a recipe or software code that tells a kitchen or computer what to produce. Investors care because mRNA is used as a flexible drug and vaccine platform that can be developed and scaled faster than many traditional medicines; its commercial prospects, manufacturing needs, regulatory approval path, and patent position can strongly affect a company’s value.

biopharmaceutical medical

"long-term dedication to the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry and supply chain"

A biopharmaceutical is a medicine made from living organisms or their components—such as proteins, cells or genetic material—rather than chemically synthesized compounds. For investors, these products can command high prices and long patent protection but also carry bigger development, manufacturing and regulatory risks; think of them like handcrafted, high-tech products that can generate strong returns if they work, but are costly and complex to produce.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• Secures the company's first U.S.-based manufacturing site, strengthening and diversifying its global supply network
• Additional investments planned to expand the site's capacity (currently at 60,000 liters of drug substance) and capabilities to support growing manufacturing programs
• Underscores Samsung Biologics' long-term dedication to the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry and supply chain

INCHEON, South Korea, ROCKVILLE, Md. and LONDON , Dec. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung Biologics (KRX: 207940.KS), a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), today announced that its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Samsung Biologics America, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Human Genome Sciences from GSK (LSE/NYSE: GSK). This strategic move secures Samsung Biologics' first U.S.-based manufacturing site, a significant expansion of the company's global footprint and its long-term commitment to the U.S. market.

Located in Rockville, Maryland, the facility sits at the center of one of the key U.S. bio-clusters and encompasses two cGMP manufacturing plants with a combined 60,000 liters of drug substance capacity, supporting both clinical and commercial production from small to large scale. Existing products will continue to be manufactured at the site, and Samsung Biologics plans to make additional investments to expand the site's capacity and upgrade technology to further support a more resilient U.S. supply chain for critical biologic medicines.

Under the terms of the agreement, with closing anticipated toward the end of Q1 of 2026, Samsung Biologics will acquire the Rockville assets for USD 280 million. The company will also retain more than 500 employees at the site to ensure operational continuity and stability. By integrating this facility into our global network, Samsung Biologics will provide clients with flexible, multi-site options in both the U.S. and Korea to ensure that live-saving therapeutics are reliably available to American patients.

Samsung Biologics has established a proven track record of operational and construction excellence through on-time completion of its Bio Campus I and II, and also recently secured land for Bio Campus III, which will house distinct R&D and manufacturing programs for new modalities. With 785,000 liters of capacity across five plants, the industry's leading capacity, Samsung Biologics continues to advance its diversified portfolio spanning monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), mRNA, organoid-based services, and next-generation therapies.

"This landmark acquisition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to advancing global healthcare and bolstering our manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. 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," said John Rim, CEO and President of Samsung Biologics. "This marks an important step forward in our mission to achieve a better life through biomedicines, and we look forward to building on the legacy of this facility as we welcome experienced colleagues to the Samsung Biologics family and continue delivering innovative solutions that make a meaningful impact."

Regis Simard, President, Global Supply Chain, GSK, said: "Today's agreement to divest the Rockville manufacturing site to our valued long-term partner, Samsung Biologics, will secure the manufacture of two important medicines on US soil for US patients and further build GSK's supply chain resilience. Along with GSK's recent commitment to invest $30bn 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."  

About Samsung Biologics

Samsung Biologics (KRX: 207940.KS) is a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), offering end-to-end integrated services that range from late discovery to commercial manufacturing.

With a combined biomanufacturing capacity of 785,000 liters across Bio Campus I and II, Samsung Biologics leverages cutting-edge technologies and expertise to advance diverse modalities, including multispecific antibodies, fusion proteins, antibody-drug conjugates, and mRNA therapeutics.

By implementing the ExellenS™ framework across its manufacturing network with standardized designs, unified processes, and advanced digitalization, Samsung Biologics ensures plant equivalency and speed for manufacturing continuity.

Samsung Biologics also operates commercial offices in Korea, the U.S., and Japan. Samsung Biologics America supports clients based in the U.S. and Europe, while its Tokyo sales office serves the APAC region.

Samsung Biologics continues to invest in new capabilities to maximize operational and quality excellence, ensuring flexibility and agility for clients. The company is committed to the on-time, in-full delivery of safe, high-quality biomedicines, as well as to making sustainable business decisions for the betterment of society and global health.

For more information, visit https://samsungbiologics.com/

Media Contact at Samsung Biologics:

Claire Kim, Senior Director cair.kim@samsung.com 

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SOURCE Samsung Biologics

FAQ

What is Samsung Biologics buying from GSK (GSK) in the December 21, 2025 deal?

Samsung Biologics is acquiring 100% of Human Genome Sciences' Rockville manufacturing site from GSK (GSK), including two cGMP plants.

How much capacity does the Rockville facility have after the Samsung Biologics acquisition?

The Rockville site has a combined 60,000 liters of drug substance capacity for clinical and commercial production.

What is the purchase price and expected closing date for Samsung Biologics' acquisition from GSK (GSK)?

The assets will be acquired for USD 280 million, with closing anticipated toward the end of Q1 2026.

Will Samsung Biologics keep the Rockville employees after the acquisition from GSK (GSK)?

Yes; Samsung Biologics will retain more than 500 employees at the Rockville site to ensure operational continuity.

How does the Rockville purchase affect Samsung Biologics' U.S. presence and supply chain strategy?

The purchase secures Samsung Biologics' first U.S. manufacturing site and aims to strengthen U.S. supply‑chain resilience through additional investments and capacity upgrades.

Will existing products continue to be made at the Rockville site after Samsung Biologics buys it from GSK (GSK)?

Yes; existing products will continue to be manufactured at the Rockville facility while Samsung Biologics plans investments to expand and upgrade the site.