Samsung Epis Holdings has opened its first biopharmaceutical research and development center in China focused on antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, joining a growing list of multinational drugmakers deepening their presence in a country that has become one of the world's most active hubs for cancer drug innovation.
The facility in Beijing's Changping district will serve as a global hub for Samsung's ADC research activities and comes amid a wave of out-licensing deals, partnerships and research investments that are reshaping China's role in the global pharmaceutical industry.
"The establishment of the new R&D center reflects our commitment to advancing new growth opportunities and strengthening our competitiveness in novel drug development," said Kim Kyung-ah, president and chief executive officer of Samsung Epis Holdings. "By bringing together world-class scientific talent and advanced technological infrastructure in China, which has become an increasingly important global center for ADC innovation, we aim to further enhance our capabilities in the development of next-generation biologic therapies."
Samsung's move reflects a broader trend among multinational pharmaceutical companies, which are increasingly expanding research operations in China as they search for new drug candidates rather than simply pursuing sales in the world's second-largest pharmaceutical market.
