Celltrion Commits $1.2B to Build Plants 4 and 5 Simultaneously

[Song Young Doo, Edaily Reporter] Celltrion is set to invest approximately KRW 1.2 trillion(around $1.2 billion) to secure large-scale manufacturing capacity, advancing a major expansion of its production infrastructure.

According to the company on March 24, the investment aims to meet surging global demand for its biopharmaceutical products while strengthening its manufacturing competitiveness worldwide. The expansion will be carried out in phases through 2030, covering facilities in Songdo, Korea, as well as production sites in the United States.

Beyond simply increasing capacity, the investment is positioned as a strategic move to establish a long-term growth foundation—supporting stable supply of next-generation biosimilars and pipeline assets, while also preparing for expansion in the contract manufacturing(CMO) business.

◇Simultaneous Construction of Plants 4 and 5 in Songdo

Celltrion will invest KRW 1.2265 trillion to build Plants 4 and 5 at its Songdo campus, adding a combined capacity of 180,000 liters.

The new facilities will incorporate advanced automation systems and smart factory technologies, enabling highly flexible manufacturing—from small-batch, multi-product runs to large-scale production. This is expected to support both existing blockbuster products and future biosimilars and novel therapeutics.

The expansion is also designed to proactively respond to growing internal pipeline demand and increasing inquiries for CMO services.



◇U.S. Expansion to Strengthen Local Supply Chain



In the U.S., Celltrion has finalized plans to expand its Branchburg, New Jersey facility by 75,000 liters—up from the initially planned 66,000 liters—bringing total capacity at the site to 141,000 liters.

Amid rising demand for local biopharmaceutical manufacturing in the U.S., the Branchburg facility is expected to play a key role in supplying Celltrion’s products and supporting its CMO business.

Upon completion of both domestic and overseas expansions, Celltrion’s total drug substance(DS) production capacity will increase from 316,000 liters to 571,000 liters. The company aims to achieve 100% in-house DS production, which is expected to significantly improve cost efficiency.

Celltrion is also investing heavily in drug product(DP) manufacturing to enhance end-to-end production competitiveness.

A new DP facility under construction in Songdo is over 70% complete and scheduled for completion within this year, with commercial production expected to begin next year. The facility will have an annual capacity of 6.5 million liquid vials. Combined with the existing 4 million vial capacity at Plant 2, total DP capacity in Songdo will reach 10.5 million vials annually.

Additionally, a new DP plant in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province, is set to begin design this year following site confirmation. Once completed—along with planned expansions of pre-filled syringe(PFS) facilities—Celltrion expects to internalize up to 90% of its global DP production needs, significantly reducing reliance on external CMO providers.



◇Two-Track Strategy: Cost Efficiency and Market Responsiveness

Celltrion plans to implement a “two-track” global production strategy through sequential domestic and international investments.

Domestic facilities will focus on maximizing in-house production and cost efficiency, strengthening competitiveness in global tenders. Meanwhile, U.S. facilities will serve as a local supply hub, mitigating potential trade risks such as tariffs while enhancing profitability.

A company official stated, “This investment will enable us to respond swiftly to growing global demand while significantly improving profitability through superior cost competitiveness and supply stability. By strengthening our dual growth pillars—biosimilars and innovative drugs—along with expanding our CMO business, we aim to become a global top-tier company.”

Celltrion also noted that it will actively consider additional capacity expansion depending on market conditions and the pace of its pipeline development.