SK Pharmteco expands in small molecules, peptides

CDMO SK Pharmteco has announced plans to invest $260 million in a new small molecule and peptide facility in Sejong, South Korea, the fifth in its home country and the cornerstone of its global manufacturing network. This is scheduled to begin operations in late 2026, creating over 300 jobs.

“By investing in this new facility, we’re increasing our capacity in Asia in line with our global expansion strategy and solidifying our position as a trusted partner for companies developing groundbreaking treatments, demonstrating our adaptability and reliability in a rapidly changing industry,” claimed CEO Joerg Ahlgrimm.

The 12,600 m2 facility will feature eight production trains with capacity in the tens of tonnes. It will also include peptide R&D facilities, cGMP kilo labs and a cGMP pilot plant for peptide manufacturing. In addition, a shell will be built for a sixth manufacturing plant for rapid future expansion.

The facility will be able support early-stage clinical and commercial production “with great flexibility”, the firm said. It has also been designed to address supply chain issues in the sector “by providing a scalable and reliable solution for producing these critical therapies”.