Celltrion has taken a major step to resolve tariff risks from the U.S. by pursuing the acquisition of a local production facility—a bold investment move. If the deal is finalized, Celltrion will establish a one-stop system enabling end-to-end operations from manufacturing to sales within the U.S.
Chairman Seo Jeong-jin announced at a press conference on the 29th, “We have been selected as the preferred negotiator to acquire a production facility in the U.S. owned by a global pharmaceutical company, beating out two competing bidders.”
The facility Celltrion aims to acquire is a large-scale drug substance (DS) plant located within a major U.S. pharmaceutical industry cluster. It has been used for years to manufacture key biologics such as oncology and autoimmune treatments. The name of the current owner and the acquisition price remain undisclosed due to confidentiality agreements. Celltrion plans to conduct an extended due diligence process before deciding whether to proceed with the final contract.
Seo stated, “We concluded that acquiring an existing facility is more cost-effective and time-efficient than building a new one,” adding, “If we decide to proceed, we plan to finalize the deal by the first week of October and complete the 100% acquisition by the end of this year, pending U.S. government approval.”
He emphasized, “Once the final contract is signed, Celltrion will eliminate tariff-related uncertainties and secure a full pipeline capable of stable local production and sales in the U.S. This move addresses uncertainty in all aspects—economic efficiency, avoiding business opportunity loss, and risk management.”
Previously, Celltrion had taken proactive steps such as relocating two years’ worth of inventory to the U.S. and expanding local contract manufacturing (CMO) arrangements to mitigate tariff impacts. The latest acquisition plan aims to establish a long-term, stable production and supply infrastructure.
The company has also laid out detailed plans for post-acquisition operations. Half of the facility will be used under exclusive CMO contracts to manufacture the original company’s products, while the other half will produce Celltrion’s own biologics for the U.S. market. The company aims to finalize the acquisition in Q4 this year, begin validation in early 2026, and commence full-scale local production by Q4 2026.
The facility’s ability to accommodate not only production personnel but also R&D teams has been highlighted as a major advantage. Seo noted, “The plant is staffed with excellent talent, and we plan to operate it together with them. This will effectively serve as a U.S. research base that complements our Korean R&D center.”
The total investment required for the acquisition and initial operation is estimated at approximately KRW 700 billion (about USD 540 million). Celltrion plans to fund the deal through a combination of internal capital and financing from financial institutions. Depending on future changes in U.S. trade policy, the company is also considering additional investment of KRW 300–700 billion (USD 230–540 million) to expand the facility.
Seo concluded, “We are doing everything possible to remove uncertainty and earn the trust of our investors. We will continue to share information with our investors and remain committed to what we promise.”
