Wearing white gloves and holding gold scissors, Korean, state and local officials cut a ribbon marking Samsung Biologics‘ first U.S.-based manufacturing facility.
The South Korean company acquired the former GlaxoSmithKline building in Rockville. Samsung Biologics will take over the work that currently is being conducted there and retain GSK’s 500 employees and expects to announce expansion plans soon.
Gov. Wes Moore called Tuesday’s ribbon cutting “a very important day for the state of Maryland, a very important day for the life science industry and a very important day for progress.”
After listing several life sciences companies that have either moved to or expanded in Maryland recently, Moore said, “This momentum is really exciting.”
U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney of Maryland’s 6th District, who was also in attendance said Samsung Biologics will bring jobs, opportunity and life-changing medicines for patients worldwide. “This investment speaks volumes about what our state and what Montgomery County has to offer, and our commitment to patients around the world, but also to business and innovation,” she said.
Neither the state of Maryland nor Montgomery County contributed funds, but the state offered tax credits.
The Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-Wha spoke of “the shared commitment” Korea and America have in manufacturing critical biological medicine. She called Maryland “America in miniature” and “a particularly good partner.”
Headquartered in Songdo, Incheon, Samsung Biologics is a global biotechnology company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of biologic drugs. The new Rockville facility comprises two manufacturing plants supporting both clinical and commercial biologics production, boosting the company’s total global capacity to 845,000 liters.
The company’s President and CEO John Rim said the ribbon cutting “marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to this community, to the state of Maryland, to the United States and the biopharmaceutical innovation and manufacturing.”
County Executive Marc Elrich thanked the company for retaining GSK’s staff and said he looked forward to its continued growth in the county.
Elrich noted that Asian residents make up about one-sixth of the county’s population and said its diversity helped attract the company to Rockville.
During the event, the state of Maryland and Montgomery County were lauded for its highly skilled workforce, vibrant science ecosystem, proximity to world-class research institutions and a strong culture of regulatory excellence.
Ribbon cutting this morning in Rockville for Samsung Biologics' first US manufacturing facility. @my pic.twitter.com/wLxjDuHsOX
— suzanne pollak (@SuzannePollak) March 31, 2026
