South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion is taking its global expansion strategy to Milan, where it plans to seek new partnerships for innovative drugs and contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) projects at CPHI Worldwide 2026.
The pharmaceutical exhibition, scheduled for October 6–8 in Milan, Italy, is expected to bring together thousands of companies and industry professionals from around the world. Celltrion will use the event to showcase its manufacturing capabilities and pursue new business opportunities with global pharmaceutical companies.
A major focus will be Celltrion’s effort to expand its pipeline beyond its established biosimilar business. The company plans to hold meetings with potential partners to explore opportunities involving innovative drugs, including new antibody treatments and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
The Milan event comes as Celltrion continues to strengthen its position in the global CDMO market. The company said in March that growing demand from pharmaceutical companies has increased the need for additional manufacturing capacity, while its own expanding product portfolio is also expected to consume more of its existing capacity.
Celltrion currently has 316,000 liters of total manufacturing capacity, including 250,000 liters across its Songdo facilities in South Korea and 66,000 liters at its Branchburg, New Jersey facility, according to the company.
The company has also been expanding its manufacturing credentials in Europe. Earlier this month, Celltrion said its Songdo Plants 1, 2 and 3 renewed EU Good Manufacturing Practice certification, covering 250,000 liters of production capacity and supporting supplies to the European market.
At CPHI Milan, Celltrion is expected to emphasize its ability to provide manufacturing and development services while building relationships with global pharmaceutical companies. The event offers a major international platform for companies operating across APIs, finished medicines, biopharmaceuticals and CDMO services.
The push comes as Celltrion looks to balance two priorities: expanding production for its own growing portfolio while capturing increasing demand from pharmaceutical companies looking for external manufacturing partners.
Its strategy signals a broader shift in the Korean biopharmaceutical industry, where companies are increasingly seeking international partnerships and opportunities across the pharmaceutical value chain.
With global drugmakers gathering in Milan, Celltrion now has another opportunity to turn international meetings into new drug-development and CDMO partnerships—and the deals emerging from the exhibition could reveal how far its global expansion strategy can go.
WWC ONE MEDIA G,A
