Samsung Biologics is set to acquire the Swiss peptide CDMO PolyPeptide Group in an all-cash deal valued at approximately CHF1.46bn ($1.8bn), as it expands beyond its traditional biologics manufacturing base into peptide-based therapeutics.
The transaction is expected to close towards the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions and is reportedly the largest M&A deal in South Korea’s biopharmaceutical sector to date.
According to Samsung, PolyPeptide’s board unanimously recommended the offer, while its largest shareholder has irrevocably committed to tender its stake.
Following completion, Samsung Biologics said that it intends to pursue a squeeze-out of remaining minority shareholders and delist PolyPeptide from the SIX Swiss Exchange, at which point PolyPeptide would "become a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Biologics."
The acquisition will give Samsung Biologics access to specialised peptide development and manufacturing capabilities, complementing its existing expertise in modalities including antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
The move comes as demand for peptide-based medicines accelerates, particularly in obesity and diabetes, where GLP-1 therapies have driven significant growth in the biopharmaceutical market.
For the manufacturing sector, the deal also represents a major expansion of Samsung Biologics’ geographic footprint.
PolyPeptide operates manufacturing and development sites in Sweden, Belgium, France, the US and India, alongside its Swiss corporate office and an innovation centre in Strasbourg, France.
PolyPeptide brings more than 70 years of API manufacturing experience and its integrated development-to-commercial model and modular, automation-focused approach are intended to provide Samsung Biologics with additional flexibility as demand for peptide APIs grows.
The companies said the combination will create a broader multi-modality CDMO platform, with Samsung Biologics targeting opportunities across GLP-1 therapies, oncology and other emerging therapeutic areas.
"This acquisition reinforces our long-term growth strategy by not only broadening our service portfolio with modality expansion into peptides including GLP-1, but by also boosting our geographic reach and proximity further within the US, Europe and India," said John Rim, Chair of the Board of Directors and CEO of Samsung Biologics.
We highly value PolyPeptide's world-class employees, industry-leading capabilities and global operational footprint and look forward to leveraging the complementary strengths of PolyPeptide and Samsung Biologics in our continued growth supporting clients as the CDMO of choice for decades to come.
