SK Plasma

The story of SK Plasma begins not in 2015, but decades earlier. Its origins trace back to 1970 with the founding of Dongshin Pharmaceutical, a company focused on plasma-derived medicines. This entity would later be incorporated as an SK affiliate in 2003 and merged with SK Chemicals in 2006. A pivotal moment arrived in 2015 when SK Chemicals spun off its blood products division to create SK Plasma as an independent company. This move was designed to sharpen focus on the core business of plasma derivatives and accelerate global expansion. Led by CEO Yun Ho Kim at the time of the spinoff, the company aimed to treat life-threatening diseases like congenital immunodeficiency and hemophilia. To achieve its global ambitions, SK Plasma needed to scale. That same year, the company broke ground on a new, advanced plasma fractionation plant in Andong, South Korea. This facility, which began commercial production in 2018, has the capacity to process 600,000 liters of plasma annually, producing essential medicines like albumin and immunoglobulin for both domestic and international markets. The company has continued to invest in the Andong site, with further expansions planned through 2027. SK Plasma remains a private entity but has attracted significant investment. It has raised $281 million from investors including Hahn & Company and Korea Investment Partners. Looking ahead, the company is pursuing an IPO and expanding its international footprint with projects like a joint venture to build a plasma fractionation plant in Indonesia, which recently secured investment from Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund.