KPBMA

What KPBMA does

KPBMA (Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association / 한국제약바이오협회) is a private, non-profit industry association headquartered in Seocho-gu, Seoul, that serves as the collective representative body for South Korea's pharmaceutical and bio-pharma manufacturers. It operates a two-tier membership model (정회원 regular members and 준회원 associate members) and delivers value through five service lines: (1) recurring publications (KPBMA Brief, DATABOOK, 제약연보, KPBMA FOCUS, English Directory, drug-advertising review guidelines, pharmaceutical yearbook); (2) education and seminars (GMP seminars co-run with MFDS, ethics management workshops, AI drug development education); (3) advisory services (export regulation support, GMP regulatory harmonization, drug approval change advisory); (4) information services (digital library, integrated permit-medicine information system, pharma-bio glossary); and (5) regulatory liaison through a member opinion-inquiry system that channels industry positions on legislative and administrative changes. Revenue is generated primarily through membership fees, with supplementary income from seminars, publications, and advisory engagements; financial figures are not publicly disclosed.

The association's distinct technical layer is its AI drug development platform: an AI Drug Development Education Program (theory + project-based hands-on training with current AI models) and a Self-Driving Lab (자율실험실, SDL) concept for autonomous experimentation, supported by a dedicated AI신약연구원 web property (aidd.kr) and the K-MELLODDY consortium. KPBMA does not develop AI products for external sale; rather, it distributes AI capability for pharmaceutical R&D to its members through education, advisory committees, and convening power. Its go-to-market is membership-driven and domestic (single-country), with outbound international activity routed through embassy partnerships (Israel, Austria, Hungary, France, Belgium/VIB) to facilitate member-company export and partner matching. The organization is governed by a chairman (currently Roh Yeon-hong / 노연홍) and a board representing member companies, with no parent entity or external investor ownership.

Name

KPBMA

Legal name

(사)한국제약바이오협회 (Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association)

Website

https://kpbma.or.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

KPBMA (Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association) is a Seoul-based non-profit industry association serving South Korean pharmaceutical and bio-pharma manufacturers through membership services, regulatory advocacy, GMP and AI drug development education, publications, and export-advisory programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seocho

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KPBMA is a non-profit trade association that delivers member services for South Korea's pharmaceutical and bio-pharma manufacturers. Its core offerings are (1) regulatory advocacy and policy support, including coordinated policy dialogue with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and the National Bio-Innovation Committee; (2) GMP compliance training and certification seminars co-organized with MFDS; (3) export regulation advisory supported by a dedicated advisory committee; (4) ethics management workshops, drug advertisement review, and fair-competition compliance review; (5) an AI drug development education program anchored by a Self-Driving Lab (SDL) autonomous laboratory; and (6) a digital library of industry publications including KPBMA Brief, DATABOOK, the Pharmaceutical Yearbook, the English Directory, KPBMA FOCUS, and the Korean Pharmaceutical Industry Guide.

Product overview

KPBMA (Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association) is a non-profit industry association for pharmaceutical and bio-pharma manufacturers in South Korea. Rather than offering technology products, KPBMA provides a portfolio of member services including: (1) Publications - KPBMA Brief, DATABOOK, Pharmaceutical Yearbook (제약연보), English Directory (영문 디렉토리), and KPBMA FOCUS for industry analysis; (2) Educational Programs - Seminars, workshops, and training including GMP seminars, ethics management workshops, and AI drug development education programs; (3) Advisory Services - Export regulation support, GMP regulatory harmonization consultation, and drug approval change advisory; (4) Information Services - Online library with pharmaceutical terminology glossary, integrated permit medicine information system, and industry trend analysis; (5) Regulatory Support - Drug advertisement review, fair competition review, and compliance education programs. KPBMA serves as an industry platform connecting member companies with regulatory bodies and international markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KPBMA Brief Regular publication delivering pharmaceutical and bio-pharma industry briefs and updates for association members and industry stakeholders.
• DATABOOK Comprehensive data reference publication covering Korean pharmaceutical industry statistics and market data.
• Pharmaceutical Yearbook (제약연보) Annual reference publication documenting Korean pharmaceutical industry developments, statistics, and the association's yearly activities.
• English Directory (영문 디렉토리) English-language directory of KPBMA member companies and industry contacts, supporting international engagement and overseas expansion.
• Drug Advertisement Review (의약품 광고심의) Guidelines and review standards for pharmaceutical advertising, supporting compliant drug advertising by member companies.
• KPBMA FOCUS Trend analysis publication with focused reports on Korean and global pharmaceutical and bio-pharma industry developments.
• Korean Pharmaceutical Industry Guide (한국 제약산업 길라잡이) Comprehensive guide to the Korean pharmaceutical industry for reference, education, and orientation of new entrants.
• Pharmaceutical Production Performance Report (의약품 생산실적표) Statistical reports on Korean pharmaceutical production performance, providing sector-wide output data for members.
• Pharma-Bio Glossary (제약바이오 용어집) Online glossary of Korean pharmaceutical and bio-pharma terminology, supporting member reference and education.
• Education & Seminar Programs (교육&세미나 프로그램) Educational seminars, workshops, and training programs for pharmaceutical industry professionals, including GMP seminars co-organized with MFDS, ethics management workshops, and AI drug development education using the Self-Driving Lab.
• Export Regulation Support Service (수출규제지원 상담) Consultation and advisory service helping member companies navigate international pharmaceutical regulatory barriers and export requirements, backed by a 21-member expert advisory committee.
• GMP Regulatory Harmonization Consultation (GMP 규제조화상담) Consultation service supporting GMP regulatory harmonization and compliance for member companies, coordinated with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
• Drug Approval Change Advisory (의약품 품목허가 변경 관련 자문) Member-only advisory service on regulatory changes related to drug approval modifications, delivered through the KPBMA member lounge opinion inquiry system.
• Integrated Information System (통합 정보 시스템) Integrated information system providing permit-medicine data and industry information management for member companies through the KPBMA digital library.
• Drug Donation Program (의약품 기부 프로그램) Program facilitating pharmaceutical donations by member companies for public benefit and industry-led social contribution.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 식품의약품안전처 (MFDS / Ministry of Food and Drug Safety)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint seminars and initiatives including GMP annual seminars, export regulation support advisory committee, and drug safety policy coordination
• 국가바이오혁신위원회 (National Bio-Innovation Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO advisory meetings for innovation ecosystem development, policy coordination for biotech industry growth
• KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup recruitment programs for bio-tech ecosystem development
• 한국보건산업진흥원 (KHIDI / Korea Health Industry Development Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry trend reports and analysis publications
• 주한이스라엘대사관 (Embassy of Israel in Korea)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIsrael pharma/healthcare webinar coordination for member companies
• 주한오스트리아대사관 (Embassy of Austria in Korea)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian company partnership meeting facilitation
• 주한헝가리대사관 (Embassy of Hungary in Korea)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean market peptide product supply partner recruitment
• 주한프랑스대사관 (Embassy of France in Korea)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench biotech and API manufacturer cooperation meeting coordination
• 벨기에 생명과학 연구소 (VIB / Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLife science research institute partnership for overseas expansion information
• 삼정KPMG (Samjung KPMG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry trend reports and outlook publications including 2025 pharmaceutical industry forecasts
• 再生의료진흥재단 (Korea Organ Bio Bank)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvanced regenerative medicine technology evaluation support programs

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization): US-based biotech industry association with a global membership spanning pharma and bio manufacturers. Comparable to KPBMA on the bio-pharma side of its remit, including policy advocacy, industry intelligence, and member education programs.
• PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America): The US national pharmaceutical research and manufacturers association. Direct structural peer to KPBMA: a national trade body representing innovative pharmaceutical manufacturers, providing policy advocacy, member services, and industry intelligence in its home market.
• Medicines Australia: Australia's pharmaceutical industry association representing innovative medicine manufacturers. Comparable peer structure: membership-funded, focused on policy advocacy, regulatory engagement, and member services for pharma manufacturers in a defined national market.
• Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA): Indian research-based pharmaceutical manufacturers association. Peer in remit: representing manufacturers, providing policy advocacy, GMP-related training, and international market access support to Indian pharma companies.
• China Pharmaceutical Industry Association (CPIA): China's national pharmaceutical industry association serving manufacturers. Direct peer representing an adjacent Asian pharmaceutical manufacturing base with a similar advocacy and member-services model to KPBMA.
• JPMA (Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association): Japan's national pharmaceutical manufacturers association. Closest regional peer to KPBMA in geographic, regulatory, and industry structure, providing advocacy, GMP-related training, and member services to Japanese pharma manufacturers.
• EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations): The pan-European pharma industry association representing manufacturer members across the EU. Direct structural peer in scale and remit: policy advocacy, regulatory affairs support, and industry data publications for member manufacturers.
• ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry): UK pharmaceutical industry trade association. Direct peer in operating model: member-funded, providing policy advocacy, regulatory affairs, and industry intelligence for pharma manufacturers in its home market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-wSFrcLIG0sb17c2cvwY1w
• Instagraminstagram.com/kpbma_official/?hl=ko
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kpbma1026

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KPBMA