Amid growing global emphasis on “industry resilience” and “national security,” the U.S. government has leveraged tax policies to successfully prompt major international pharmaceutical companies to repatriate production and build domestic facilities. Adimmune Chairman Chien Chi-Hsien stated on November 12 that the healthcare industry is an integral part of national security and sovereignty. This trend is not only reshaping the global pharmaceutical supply chain but also profoundly affecting the collaboration and distribution models of the international vaccine industry in response to future pandemics. Taiwan, too, faces the challenge of building its own industrial resilience.
Chien emphasized that healthcare is closely tied to the general public; whether during war, natural disasters (such as earthquakes or storms), or pandemics, access to medical supplies is critical. However, the U.S. has historically relied heavily on imported medicines, with import volumes reaching $300 billion by 2021.
To address this dependency, the U.S. government implemented measures requiring international drug manufacturers to produce domestically, leveraging tariff pressure. Companies that produce abroad and evade domestic taxes face import duties. Conversely, if a company begins constructing domestic facilities—even if products are still manufactured overseas—no import tax is applied.
Facing U.S. tariff pressures and national security requirements, major global pharmaceutical giants have invested heavily in domestic manufacturing: Pfizer announced $6.5 billion plus $9 billion in investments, AstraZeneca $50 billion, Merck $20 billion, and GSK $30 billion—an irreversible global trend.
Chien recalled that during the H1N1 pandemic, foreign manufacturers refused to supply Taiwan, citing domestic shortages. At that time, government tenders went unbid twice. Fortunately, Adimmune had the production capacity to resolve the issue. The company’s diversified capabilities allow simultaneous production of protein-based and virus-based vaccines, a rarity among facilities. Annual production of 30 million doses is achievable, sufficient for Taiwan’s domestic needs.
However, given the small size of the Taiwanese market, Adimmune must operate globally to maintain industrial resilience. Accordingly, the company has adopted an international-certification-focused strategy and has obtained GMP approvals from the U.S., EU, Canada, Brazil, and other regions, enabling market access in these territories.
Adimmune is among the few international pharmaceutical companies to sign a new cooperation agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside GSK, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. In the event of a new infectious disease outbreak, WHO will provide the latest virus samples and data to Adimmune and partner companies. While Adimmune can prioritize production for Taiwan, 10% of output must be submitted to WHO for global distribution, offering an important layer of protection for Taiwanese citizens.
Adimmune continues to expand internationally, with operations in the U.S., Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe, and China. Chien stressed that a fully developed biotech industry must integrate R&D, clinical trials, commercial-scale production, and market channels. Regulatory frameworks are treated by each country as part of national sovereignty to protect domestic industries. By adhering to international standards, Adimmune strengthens Taiwan’s industrial resilience while advancing its presence in global markets.
Resource: 全球醫藥供應鏈重塑，國光生董座強調產業韌性，積極布局國際化GMP產能
