Domestic pharmaceutical companies are adopting differing strategies for the blood product market abroad. As demand for blood products continues to rise due to an aging population, securing raw plasma and production technology has become a key competitive advantage, leading to distinct strategies.
According to H&I Global Research, the domestic plasma-derived product market is projected to grow from $503.1 million (approximately 712 billion won) in 2024 to $770.6 million (approximately 1.09 trillion won) by 2033. Plasma-derived products are protein-based medicines produced by fractionating and purifying human plasma, requiring advanced technology from raw material acquisition to production and quality control. Only about 30 companies worldwide possess the relevant technology.
In South Korea, SK Plasma and GC Green Cross are accelerating their efforts in the blood product market. SK Plasma is expanding its 'essential medicine self-sufficiency solution,' which combines plant construction and technology transfer in countries lacking plasma fractionation technology. This model goes beyond mere exports to establish local production bases.
A prime example is Indonesia, where SK Plasma is constructing a plasma fractionation center with an annual capacity of 600,000 liters in the Karawang region. The company has completed machinery installation and is currently undergoing Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification. Once certified, operational staff will be trained at the Andong plant before being deployed to the site. An SK Plasma representative stated, "Training is currently underway at the Andong plant, and we aim to have the Indonesian facility operational by next year."
The project in Turkey follows a similar approach. SK Plasma has signed a technology transfer and licensing agreement worth 65 million euros (approximately 106.2 billion won) with local company Proturk and recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a plasma fractionation plant. The facility, which will have an annual production capacity of 600,000 liters, is expected to be completed in the second half of 2028, with commercial production targeted for 2030.
GC Green Cross is focusing its efforts on the U.S. market, the largest in the world. Its liquid immunoglobulin product, Aliglo, is the first blood product developed by a domestic company to receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Unlike other countries, the U.S. allows paid plasma donations, making it relatively easier to secure plasma. According to FDA data, there are 1,234 active plasma collection centers operating in the U.S. as of 2024.
Last year, Green Cross invested 138 billion won to acquire ABO Holdings, a U.S. blood center operator, to establish a supply chain. The strategy aims to strengthen its supply base, as stable raw material acquisition is directly linked to production competitiveness.
Investment continues, with a recent agreement with Chungcheongbuk-do and Cheongju City to invest a total of 530 billion won in the Ochang plant by 2033. Of this, approximately 140 billion won will be allocated to establish production facilities for a 20% high-concentration subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG).
Jung Yoon-taek, head of the Pharmaceutical Industry Strategy Research Institute, stated, "As demand for plasma-derived products continues to grow due to aging, securing stable plasma is key to competitiveness, given that it relies on donations. The high entry barriers in production processes and quality control mean that only companies with long-term investments and accumulated know-how can remain competitive."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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