Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariff policies, Taiwan’s biotech companies remain well-positioned. Trump recently stated that his administration is considering imposing tariffs on automobiles, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals. However, several Taiwanese biotech firms, including Bora Pharmaceuticals, PharmaEssentia, Ever Supreme, StemCyte, and Taiwan Bio Therapeutics, stand to benefit from their ‘Made in USA’ advantage. These companies are not only expected to avoid tariff-related disruptions but may also gain from supply chain shifts.
In 2024, Bora Pharmaceuticals completed a series of acquisitions in the U.S., significantly expanding its presence. The company acquired Upsher-Smith Laboratories (USL), the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer in Minnesota, followed by a sterile injectable manufacturing plant in Gaithersburg, Maryland, from Emergent BioSolutions, and rare disease drug developer Pyros Pharmaceuticals in New Jersey. The total investment reached NT$8.58 billion.
PharmaEssentia also sees potential advantages. Although the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for its blood cancer drug Ropeg is produced in Taiwan, the final filling process is conducted in a U.S.-based facility. This qualifies Ropeg as a U.S.-manufactured drug under American policies, making Trump’s proposed tariffs favorable rather than disruptive to the company.
Ever Supreme has strengthened its U.S. market presence by acquiring a 48.78% stake in a U.S. stem cell joint venturethrough a technology investment agreement. The joint venture is currently focused on clinical trials for its innovative cell therapy drug, UMSC01, with plans to further enhance R&D capabilities and business expansion in the U.S.. This move is expected to accelerate Ever Supreme’s global growth.
StemCyte has also gained significant attention, as it has a fully operational GMP-compliant manufacturing site in California and a well-established U.S. commercial presence. Additionally, its new drug, RegeneCyte, has received FDA approval, making StemCyte the world’s first biotech company to obtain U.S. market authorization for an umbilical cord blood stem cell therapy.
Resource: 生醫族群 擁「美國製造」利基
