Celltrion Closes In on Samsung BioLogics... Could It Top the Domestic Pharma and Bio Industry for the First Time?

Celltrion, which has held the No. 2 position in South Korea's pharma and bio industry behind Samsung BioLogics, is rapidly approaching the leader in sales. With global biosimilar sales reaching record highs, there is growing speculation that Celltrion could surpass Samsung BioLogics for the first time in annual revenue this year. According to securities analysts, the gap between the two companies' projected annual revenues has narrowed to around 1 trillion won. Celltrion's strong growth is driven by high-margin follow-on products, with stable sales growth in Europe and increased demand for bids and year-end inventory in the second half of the year. Key products like Omecizumab, Bevacizumab, Adalimumab, and Ustekinumab are expanding market share in Europe and the U.S., while cost improvements from merged operations, inventory depletion, and production efficiency are further boosting profitability.