KPMA

What KPMA does

KPMA (한국제약바이오협회 / Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association) is a Seoul-based, private non-profit trade association that serves as the unified representative body for Korean pharmaceutical and bio-pharma manufacturers. The association operates as the designated national industry voice, engaging with Korean regulators (MFDS) and international bodies (WTO TBT, Global Harmonization Center) on policy, regulatory harmonization, and trade matters on behalf of its regular and associate member companies. Its core activities include regulatory opinion consultation, drug export regulation support, GMP harmonization counseling via a dedicated hotline, and policy advocacy for member companies.

The association's service portfolio spans specialized family sites — including the AI Drug Research Institute (AI신약연구원), the K-MELLODDY AI drug discovery project office, the Drug Export Regulation Support Office (risecenter.kr), the Education Center (교육센터), the Compliance Education Institute (컴플라이언스교육원), the Fair Competition Review (공정경쟁규약심의), the Advertising Review (광고심의), the K-SPACE digital platform, and KIMCo for international medical cooperation. KPMA publishes a portfolio of periodicals and reports (KPBMA Brief, DATABOOK, 제약연보, 영문 디렉토리, KPBMA FOCUS, 시장동향·분석) and aggregates industry-wide sales and production data from members through its authenticated member lounge portal.

The business model is membership-based, with revenue derived entirely from recurring association dues (협회비) paid by regular and associate member companies; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is accessible only through the member lounge. The association operates with a lean staff of 22 employees at its headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and distributes services both digitally (YouTube, Naver Blog, Instagram, Stibee Newsletter, newsroom) and through in-person seminars and the AI drug development competition.

Name

KPMA

Legal name

한국제약바이오협회 (Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association)

Website

https://kpma.or.kr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Manufacturing Quality Assurance & GMP Compliance (batch release, deviation/CAPA, tech transfer QA) (HLAGAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Training & Competency Programs (HACCP, PCQI, GMP) (AFALADAK)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical industry association
• Regulatory compliance services
• Pharmaceutical training programs
• Industry publications
• Export regulation support

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership dues / association fees: KPMA collects association membership fees (협회비) from regular and associate member pharmaceutical and bio-pharma companies. The association operates a member lounge where companies manage corporate information, dues records, and fee receipts.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KPMA is a Korean non-profit trade association representing pharmaceutical and bio-pharma manufacturers. It delivers regulatory guidance and policy advocacy, GMP harmonization consulting for export markets, industry training and MR certification maintenance, export market intelligence and international partner matching, industry data publications (DATABOOK, KPBMA Brief, yearbook), and AI drug development research initiatives (K-MELLODDY, AI Drug Research Institute). The association operates a member portal through which member companies access services, training registrations, opinion consultations, and sales performance reporting.

Product overview

KPMA (한국제약바이오협회 / Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association) is a pharmaceutical industry association offering a portfolio of publications, research reports, and professional services. The core offerings include periodicals (KPBMA Brief, DATABOOK, 제약연보, 제약산업 길라잡이, 영문 디렉토리), research and analysis reports (KPBMA FOCUS, 시장동향분석, 세미나 자료), and compliance resources (공정경쟁규약 자료, 제약바이오 용어집, 광고심의, 공정경쟁규약심의). Supporting services include the GMP 규제조화 상담 핫라인, 수출규제지원 사무국, AI신약연구원, K-MELLODDY 사업단, 교육센터, and 컴플라이언스교육원. The association serves as a comprehensive resource hub for Korea's pharmaceutical and bio-pharma industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KPBMA FOCUS: Trend and issue analysis publication
• KPBMA Brief
• DATABOOK
• 제약연보
• 영문 디렉토리
• 의약품 광고심의

Products and services

• KPBMA Brief

Quantifiable outcome

• K-MELLODDY project operationalized as a major industry-wide initiative for AI-driven drug discovery
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 의약품 수출규제지원 사무국 (Drug Export Regulation Support Office)coreOthersA dedicated family site (sub-site) operated by KPMA to assist member companies with pharmaceutical export regulations and compliance requirements.
• AI신약연구원 (AI Drug Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPMA-affiliated AI drug development research institute offering industry-wide AI education and training programs, including the AI 신약개발 경진대회 (AI Drug Development Competition).
• K-MELLODDY 사업단 (K-MELLODDY Project Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA major industry-wide collaborative initiative in AI-driven drug discovery, newly launched with 2026 projects. Operated under KPMA's family sites ecosystem.
• 교육센터 (Education Center)coreOthersKPMA's integrated education center providing training and seminar programs, including MR certification maintenance courses and compliance training.
• 컴플라이언스교육원 (Compliance Education Institute)coreOthersA dedicated family site providing pharmaceutical compliance education for member company employees.
• 공정경쟁규약심의 (Fair Competition Review)minorOthersA family site managing the fair competition regulations for the pharmaceutical industry under KPMA's governance.
• 광고심의 (Advertising Review)minorOthersA family site managing pharmaceutical advertising review and approval processes.
• K-SPACEminorOthersA KPMA family site providing digital resources and space for the pharmaceutical industry.
• KIMCo (Korea International Medical Association)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a KPMA family site; provides international medical cooperation and partner matching services for Korean pharmaceutical companies.
• 주한 오스트리아대사관 (Austrian Embassy in Korea)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustrian Embassy facilitates partnership meetings between KPMA member companies and Austrian companies, as indicated in the overseas market entry section.
• 주한 헝가리대사관 (Hungarian Embassy in Korea)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHungarian Embassy recruits Korean pharmaceutical companies for peptide product supply partnerships targeting the European market.
• 주한 프랑스대사관 (French Embassy in Korea)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench Embassy invites Korean biotech and API manufacturers to cooperation meetings through KPMA's overseas expansion information portal.
• 벨기에 생명과학 연구소 VIB (Flemish Institute for Biotechnology)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVIB, the Belgian life science research institute, is featured on KPMA's overseas market entry information section, facilitating biotech collaboration with Korean companies.
• 중국 HQ PharmaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChina-based HQ Pharma is listed on KPMA's overseas expansion information portal as a potential market entry partner for member companies.
• 디지털역사관 (Digital History Museum)minorOthersKPMA's digital history archive showcasing the history of the Korean pharmaceutical and bio-pharma industry.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• IFPMA (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations): Global pharmaceutical industry association that KPMA may indirectly engage with through international cooperation. Represents the broader industry at WHO and multilateral forums, providing an umbrella for national associations like KPMA.
• BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization): Largest US biotechnology trade association with broader scope than KPMA, including biotech companies, pharma, and academic institutions. Operates internationally with significant advocacy, conference, and education infrastructure.

Direct peers

• PhRMA: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America is the direct US counterpart to KPMA, representing research-based pharmaceutical companies with policy advocacy, regulatory engagement, and member education services in a national market.
• JPMA (Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association): Japan's national pharmaceutical industry association serving the same function as KPMA in Korea: representing manufacturers, providing regulatory guidance, conducting advocacy, and offering training and education services.
• Korea BIO: Korean biotechnology industry association that competes with KPMA for bio-pharma member representation, focusing on biotech and emerging therapy sectors. Splits Korean pharma industry representation with KPMA.
• Medicines Australia: Australian pharmaceutical industry association representing innovative pharma manufacturers, providing comparable advocacy, regulatory engagement, and member education services to KPMA in a different national market.
• EFPIA: European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations represents the European pharma industry with comparable functions to KPMA including regulatory advocacy, policy engagement, and member services across a regional market.
• ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry): UK's pharmaceutical industry trade association with parallel functions to KPMA including regulatory advocacy, member compliance training, and industry data publication for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Regional players

• China Pharmaceutical Industry Association: Chinese pharmaceutical industry association with comparable advocacy and regulatory representation functions to KPMA, serving a large domestic pharma manufacturing base and engaging with Korean companies through international cooperation.
• India Pharmaceutical Alliance: Indian pharmaceutical industry association representing domestic manufacturers and exporters, with comparable functions to KPMA in policy advocacy, regulatory engagement, and international market access support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 KPMA