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Biohealth Companies Carry On Semiconductor-Style Performance

PolicyNovember 2, 20261 min read

Korean drugmakers Celltrion and Samsung Biologics and its sister companies reported strong third-quarter 2026 results. Biosimilar drugs, which are copies of expensive medicines, drove much of the growth.

Record profits from copy-type medicines

Celltrion posted record quarterly sales and operating profit for the third quarter of 2026. Samsung Bioepis and Samsung Biologics also reported solid growth. All three companies make or develop biosimilars, which are lower-cost versions of medicines that are already sold. The article says these companies are also spending heavily on new drug research.

Key numbers

Celltrion: sales of 1.5755 trillion won (up 53.1%) and operating profit of 525.3 billion won (up 74.3%). Operating margin was 33.3%.
Celltrion's new product lines made 905.8 billion won in the quarter, about 67% of its biologic product sales.
Samsung Bioepis: sales of 442.2 billion won and operating profit of 132.6 billion won.
Samsung Biologics: sales of 1.4903 trillion won and operating profit of 640.1 billion won. It raised its full-year sales growth forecast to 20%.
Samsung Biologics bought a US site in Rockville, Maryland in March 2026.

Why biosimilars matter

A biosimilar is a close copy of a biologic drug, which is a medicine made from living cells. When the original drug's patent ends, makers can sell biosimilars. This lets patients pay less. Celltrion and Samsung Bioepis sell these copies around the world, while Samsung Biologics makes drugs for other companies under contract.

Why it matters

The results show that Korean drugmakers can earn high profits while still investing in new medicines. Celltrion's sales of its newer products are growing fast, and it is now launching Omlyclo in the United States. Growth in these companies could help Korea compete in the global drug market.

What to watch

Whether Celltrion reaches its goal of 70% of biologic sales from new product lines by the end of 2026.
Whether Omlyclo sells well in the United States after its early-month launch.
Whether Samsung Biologics completes its purchase of PolyPeptide Group after regulators approve the deal.
Whether Samsung Bioepis's cancer and obesity drugs in development move into later testing.

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