Pharma companies face the crisis ‘head-on'

increased R&D personnel by 25% during the past 3 years while suffering from the COVID-19 crisis

R&D personnel in 30 major listed pharmaceutical and bio companies increased from 5,122 to 6,417

26 of the 30 companies expand R&D personnel in the past 3 years... Samsung Biologics' R&D personnel increased by 354

Celltrion owns the most R&D personnel...Hanmi No.1 among traditional pharmaceutical companies

The major listed pharmaceutical and bio companies were found to have significantly increased their R&D personnel over the past 3 years, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

9 out of 10 companies increased their research personnel, and the number increased by 25% during the past 3 years.

 

According to the Financial Supervisory Service on the 31st, the total number of research personnel in major listed companies in Korea increased by 11.7% from the previous year to reach 6,417.

 

Among the listed biopharmaceutical companies, the 30 with the highest sales that own research personnel were reviewed for research.

 

Compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak, pharmaceutical companies in Korea have greatly increased the number of their R&D personnel.

 

The number of researchers at 30 pharmaceutical companies increased by 4.2% from 5,122 in 2019 to 5,339 in 2020.

 

In 2021, the number increased by 7.6% to reach 5,747, and the rate of increase was even greater last year.

 

Over the past 3 years, the number of research personnel at the companies increased by 25.3%.

 

R&D personnel at major listed pharma and bio companies (Unit: persons, Data: FSS)

The numbers signify the companies' active investment in R&D personnel for new substances amid the unstable environment from COVID-19.

 

The R&D investment amount of 30 major pharmaceutical and bio companies increased by 42.2% from KRW 1.917 trillion to KRW 2.726 trillion in 3 years.

 

The number of R&D personnel increased in 26 of the 30 companies during the past 3 years.

 

In other words, 9 of 10 companies had increased investments in R&D personnel.

 

By individual company, Samsung Biologics’ R&D personnel increased by 354 over the past 3 years from 254 in 2019 to 608 last year.

 

The number of R&D personnel at Samsung Biologics increased by 77 and 69 in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and then by 608 last year.

 

R&D investments have also increased due to an increase in contract manufacturing organization (CMO) and contract development organization (CDO) orders for the comapny's biopharmaceutical drugs.

 

Samsung Biologics recorded sales of KRW 3.00 trillion last year, and become the first company to exceed sales of KRW 2 trillion and 3 trillion at once among domestic pharmaceutical and bio companies.

 

R&D investments by Samsung Biologics have increased more than fivefold in 3 years from KRW 48.5 billion in 2019 and reached KRW 268.2 billion last year.

 

The number of R&D personnel at Daewoong Pharmaceutical was 379 last year, which is a 239 increase from 3 years ago.

 

The number of R&D personnel at Daewoong Pharmaceutical increased from 140 in 2019 to 231 in 2020 when its personnel from its development unit were added to the count.

 

The number then increased by 51 and 97 in 2021 and last year, respectively.

 

The analysis is that the company has further strengthened R&D investments after making visible R&D achievements with Fexclu and Envlo.

 

Daewoong Pharmaceutical's R&D investment increased by 43.2% from KRW 140.6 billion in 2019 to KRW 201.4 billion in 3 years.

 

SK Bioscience's R&D personnel increased by 165 from 124 in 2019 to become 289 last year.

 

SK Bioscience is one of the companies that received the most attention for developing a vaccine during the COVID-19 crisis.

 

In June of last year, SK Bioscience became the first Korean company to successfully commercialize a homegrown COVID-19 vaccine, SkyCorione Multi Inj.

 

SK Bioscience's R&D expenses soared 273.0% from KRW 30.3 billion in 2019 to KRW 113 billion last year.

 

Based on last year, Yuhan Corp’s R&D personnel was 345, up 80 from the 265 it had had 3 years ago.

 

Celltrion, Dong-A ST, and GC Pharma have increased the number of their R&D personnel by more than 70 over the past 3 years.

 

In addition, Dongkook Pharmaceutical, Daewon Pharmaceutical, Huons, Kyongbo Pharmaceutical, and Shinpoong Pharmaceutical increased their R&D personnel by more than 20 over the past 3 years.

 

As of last year, Celltrion had the largest size of R&D personnel with 721 researchers.

 

Celltrion has 55 doctoral-level and 345 master's-level personnel conducting research in its Biotechnology Research Division, New Drug Research Division, Approval Division, Clinical Development Division, Medical Division, Chemical Product Development Division, etc.

 

Samsung Biologics had hired 608 R&D personnel.

 

The company is conducting research activities at MSAT BU, CDO Development Center, its Bio Research Center, etc.

 

Among traditional pharmaceutical companies, Hanmi Pharmaceutical had the largest number of researchers with 584 researchers.

 

Chong Kun Dang and GC Pharma hired more than 500 R&D personnel.