Samsung Biologics has bid approximately US$1.8 billion for Swiss peptide specialist PolyPeptide, offering CHF44.31 per share in cash. The deal would expand Samsung's manufacturing into therapeutic peptides, a fast-growing segment driven by GLP-1 therapies. PolyPeptide saw revenue rise 41.6% year…
Samsung Biologics, the South Korean contract development and manufacturing organization, has made a bid valued at approximately US$1.8 billion for the Swiss peptide specialist PolyPeptide. The offer stands at CHF44.31 per share in cash, which values PolyPeptide's equity at roughly CHF1.46 billion. This acquisition would allow Samsung Biologics to move beyond its core antibody and biologics business into the development and production of therapeutic peptides.
The peptide market has become increasingly attractive following the commercial success of GLP-1 therapies and other peptide-based drugs. This segment is now one of the fastest-growing areas of pharmaceutical outsourcing, and Samsung aims to capture that growth through this acquisition.
PolyPeptide operates manufacturing sites in Europe, the United States, and India, positioning it among the world's leading producers of peptide active pharmaceutical ingredients. The company is currently experiencing strong market demand. In the first half of 2026, PolyPeptide's revenue increased 41.6% year over year to €236.6 million. Management now projects full-year revenue growth of 25% to 30%, with an EBITDA margin in the high teens.
This offer is part of a series of multi-billion-dollar transactions reshaping the CDMO industry. The largest deal in recent years came in 2024, when Swiss CDMO Lonza acquired U.S.-based Catalent for approximately US$16.5 billion. That acquisition created one of the world's largest providers of biologics, cell and gene therapy, and sterile drug manufacturing. Additionally, Novo Holdings, acting on behalf of Novo Nordisk, acquired Catalent, highlighting the strategic importance of advanced manufacturing capacity.
Pharmaceutical companies and private equity investors continue to acquire specialized CDMOs. Most recently, German healthcare investor SHS Capital acquired a majority stake in Basic Pharma, a Dutch nasal spray and semi-solid specialist. The goal is to build a European platform for the development, regulatory approval, and manufacturing of specialty pharmaceuticals. Other major players, including Evonik, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and WuXi AppTec, are also investing heavily in expanding production capacity worldwide.
Several factors are driving this consolidation. Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly outsourcing development and manufacturing to reduce capital expenditures while gaining flexibility as the number of complex therapeutic modalities grows. At the same time, specialized technologies have become strategic bottlenecks. These include antibody-drug conjugates, oligonucleotides, cell and gene therapies, and peptides. CDMOs that possess proprietary platforms, regulatory expertise, and manufacturing know-how command premium valuations.
For Samsung Biologics, acquiring PolyPeptide would represent more than just entry into the peptide market. It would mark another step toward becoming a fully integrated global CDMO. The company has spent years broadening its capabilities beyond traditional biologics manufacturing to support customers across the pharmaceutical value chain. This acquisition would strengthen Samsung's European footprint and position the company to benefit from continued growth driven by the next generation of peptide-based medicines.
Samsung has already established close ties with another Swiss life sciences company through multiple project partnerships with biosimilar developer Sandoz. Switzerland and South Korea have also expanded collaboration across several technology sectors, including quantum computing in addition to life sciences. A large South Korean delegation participated in the Global Village at this year's Swiss Biotech Day, while Basel Area Business and Innovation continues to work with South Korean partners on joint innovation initiatives.
In other industry news, Ardena appointed Ariane de Ganck, PhD, as its new Chief Scientific Officer. She joined the Ghent-based CDMO and CRO in 2019. Rezon Bio, a Polish company, appointed Dr. Ralf Otto, a former manager at Boehringer Ingelheim and Rentschler, as its new Chief Operating Officer. Europe continues to play a pivotal role in the global biologics landscape, combining scientific excellence, regulatory maturity, and a strong industrial foundation.
Peptides referenced: GLP-1.
Related reading: Novo Nordisk sues Eli Lilly over Wegovy vs Zepbound ad claims, Bachem Plans 2030 Commercial Production at Sisslerfeld Peptide Site, Bachem Invests Over CHF 500 Million in New Peptide Facility in Sisslerfeld, Samsung Biologics to Acquire PolyPeptide for $1.8 Billion, Expanding into GLP-1 Market.