Despite the burden of its first-ever strike and the decline in the won-dollar exchange rate, Samsung Biologics delivered solid results, demonstrating its resilience as a "global top-tier CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) company." The company also raised its own annual revenue guidance (outlook), expressing confidence in achieving "record-breaking" performance.
Samsung Biologics announced on the 21st that its Q3 revenue this year was 1,490.3 billion won and operating profit was 640.1 billion won, up 18.5% and 1%, respectively, from the same period last year. Despite reflecting an estimated loss of approximately 150 billion won due to the union's full-scale strike in May, the company successfully achieved "surprise earnings" that exceeded securities industry forecasts.
These results are analyzed as the combined outcome of △full operation of Plants 1 through 4 △increased operating speed of Plant 5 and △expanded revenue contribution from the Rockville plant in the United States. With delayed batch production (a unit of product obtained in a single manufacturing run under identical conditions) due to the strike, and the stabilization of commercial production at Plant 5 and the Rockville plant, future performance is expected to continue an upward trend.
In fact, Samsung Biologics raised its annual revenue growth outlook from "15-20% growth" year-on-year to "20% growth" on this day. This marks the first time Samsung Biologics has revised its revenue outlook upward. With 20% growth, this year's projected revenue stands at 546.84 billion won. Since 74% (468.3 billion won) has already been secured, there is potential to exceed the target depending on Q4 performance. Annual operating profit, which hit a record high last year (200.69 billion won), has also reached 87% (180.73 billion won) through Q3 this year, heightening expectations for a new record.
Samsung Biologics' business performance is robust both internally and externally. As a result of enhancing its order-winning competitiveness across all fields, including contract manufacturing (CMO) and contract development (CDO), cumulative orders have reached 117 and 184 cases, respectively, achieving a total cumulative value of $22 billion (approximately 29.1258 trillion won). Based on large-scale production capacity and quality competitiveness, the company has established a virtuous cycle structure of long-term orders → improved plant utilization rates → performance growth. Furthermore, analysts note that new order negotiations delayed by tariff uncertainties are resuming, following the signing of a long-term biopharmaceutical production contract worth 350.8 billion won with a European pharmaceutical company last month and an additional CMO contract worth approximately 93.5 billion won with another European pharmaceutical company in early this month.
Samsung Biologics has identified △production capacity (capa) △business portfolio and △global hubs as its "Three-Pillar Expansion Strategy" for long-term growth, concentrating its efforts accordingly. In particular, the acquisition of "PolyPeptide," a Swiss peptide CDMO company, is expected to be a key opportunity to expand its antibody-centric business portfolio into peptides, a core ingredient in obesity treatments. It is evaluated as significant because it lays the foundation to respond to new modalities (treatment approaches) with high growth potential.
The PolyPeptide acquisition process has entered its final stage after recent tender offer results showed 87.88% of shares subscribed, significantly exceeding the minimum acceptance condition of 66.7%. Samsung Biologics plans to maximize synergies by combining the design and operation know-how accumulated in its large-scale production facilities with peptide development and production technologies post-acquisition. The company is also considering expanding production facilities in response to future growth in the peptide market.
The PolyPeptide acquisition also connects to global hub expansion. Centered on PolyPeptide's headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, the company will secure a total of six peptide production and development hubs across five countries, including Europe, the United States, and India. By linking with the Rockville plant in the United States, it is expected to enhance accessibility for global pharmaceutical companies and flexibly respond to regional supply chain changes.
Samsung Biologics also completed its global sales network covering Asia-Pacific regions—including the three major biopharmaceutical markets of the United States (New Jersey/Boston), Europe (Netherlands), and Japan (Tokyo)—by opening a European sales office in the Netherlands last August. A Samsung Biologics official stated, "We plan to strengthen our order-winning competitiveness and achieve a leading-edge competitive advantage through the expansion of our global network."
in THEBIO
