Celltrion

Open Innovation is a strategy that actively brings in external ideas and technologies while also sharing internal assets with external partners to create greater value. 

The pharmaceutical industry is a high-risk, high-cost sector, where developing a single new drug can take years and cost billions. To address this, many companies are strengthening their open innovation strategies to enhance development efficiency and distribute risk through collaboration.

As advanced technologies such as AI and digital healthcare converge at an accelerating pace, open innovation has become a central means of strengthening technological competitiveness.

To respond to its paradigm shift from biosimilars to novel drugs, Celltrion is pursuing a multi-faceted open innovation strategy. By collaborating with promising partners both domestically and internationally, the company is generating strategic synergies across areas such as antibody-based therapies, drug delivery systems, and new modalities.

A representative example is the “Seoul Bio Hub – Celltrion Open Innovation Program,” launched in 2023. The program aims to identify high-potential biotech startups and explore strategic collaboration opportunities with Celltrion, including joint research, equity investments, and licensing agreements.

So far, six companies have been selected, with some achieving notable accomplishments, including awards in global accelerator programs. Celltrion offers differentiated, hands-on support to selected companies, including tailored guidance for technology advancement based on company assessments, regular R&D mentoring, and access to global networks.

Starting in 2025, Celltrion will strengthen collaboration with local biotech companies through a partnership agreement with Gangwon Province. This initiative will include antibody-based therapeutics as well as related materials, components, and equipment, contributing to the globalization of the local biotech industry. Celltrion will provide technical consulting and access to global networks, while Gangwon Province will support investment attraction and commercialization—enhancing public-private collaboration.

In addition, Celltrion is realizing ecosystem-focused open innovation through initiatives such as operating Incheon Startup Park, establishing the K-Bio Lab Hub, and partnering with startups producing biologics raw materials. Notably, collaborations with companies like Pinotbio (ADC platform), BioMe (microbiome therapeutics), and Basgenbio (genome-based drug development) represent key initiatives to strengthen Celltrion's next-generation drug portfolio.

This year, Celltrion hosted its inaugural “Celltrion Science & Innovation Day 2025,” where it highlighted its achievements in new drug development through open innovation and shared its mid- and long-term product development strategies and vision with industry stakeholders. 

The event focused on antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) and, through six sessions and a panel discussion, outlined key technical directions including “Bio-better ADC development strategies” and “new camptothecin payloads for next-generation ADCs.” Celltrion plans to hold "Science & Innovation Day" annually to share its open innovation strategy and accelerate the pace of new drug development.

Meanwhile, Celltrion is collaborating with various overseas companies on new drug development while strengthening its efforts to identify global partners with innovative technologies.

As part of this effort, Celltrion participated in the “Company Presentation” session at BioUSA 2025, where it highlighted its distinctive business capabilities and provided updates on its antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) and multispecific antibody development programs to global biopharma audience.

It also outlined its open innovation strategies for adopting promising technologies, such as peptide therapeutics and small-molecule compounds, aimed at developing treatments for diseases with high unmet medical needs.

Looking ahead, Celltrion plans to enhance its global competitiveness through open innovation and continue expanding its collaborative network.

As technological convergence and global collaboration accelerate, open innovation has become a key strategy for sustaining the entire biopharmaceutical ecosystem.

Looking ahead, Celltrion will continue to expand the frontiers of innovation through partnerships and strengthen its role as a platform company bridging domestic and global bio-innovation ecosystems.