- DuChemBio has signed a 34.3 billion won ($25.5 million) investment agreement to build South Korea’s first CDMO plant dedicated to radiopharmaceuticals in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province.
- The facility will combine radioisotope production, drug manufacturing, R&D, and export capabilities, with the first production line targeting commercial output in the second half of 2029.
DuChemBio plans to build South Korea’s first contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) plant dedicated to radiopharmaceuticals, following a 34.3 billion won ($25.5 million) investment agreement with North Jeolla Province and the city of Jeongeup. The facility will combine radioisotope production, drug manufacturing, and export operations at one site.
Construction is planned in two phases. DuChemBio expects to break ground in June 2027 and invest about 13.6 billion won in a manufacturing and R&D center and the first production line, with commercial output targeted for the second half of 2029. The first line is designed to produce about 1,000 batches annually, which the company described as its largest capacity to date.
A second phase, valued at about 20.7 billion won and planned for 2031 and 2032, will add an isotope center and an active-ingredient plant. The facility will require GMP clearance from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and a production license from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission before operations can begin.
DuChemBio said it will finance the project with approximately 19.3 billion won in cash and about 15 billion won in facility loans, without a rights offering. The Jeongeup site is located in a state-designated investment zone, providing tax incentives, while the company expects about 3.4 billion won in local subsidies.
DuChemBio already manufactures two Alzheimer’s PET imaging agents under contract: 18F-MK-6240 for U.S.-based Lantheus and 18F-PI-2620 for Germany’s Life Molecular Imaging. CEO Kim Sang-woo said the company aims to establish “one-stop” capabilities spanning drug development through approval and develop Jeongeup into an RPT hub serving China, Japan, and Taiwan. He projected annual revenue of more than 20 billion won from the site after 2032.
