Celltrion Pharmaceuticals begins domestic sales of 3 types including Ilia biosimilar

Expanding portfolio of treatments for allergic diseases, autoimmune diseases, and ophthalmic diseases

▲ Celltrion CI (Photo = provided by Celltrion)

[메디컬투데이=최유진 기자] Celltrion Pharmaceuticals announced on the 2nd that it will launch three biosimilar products domestically and expand its market share after passing the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s drug price announcement on the 1st.

The biosimilars being launched by Celltrion Pharmaceuticals include ▲allergic disease treatment drug ‘Xolair’ ▲biosimilar ‘Omriclor’ (ingredient name: omalizumab) ▲autoimmune disease treatment drug ‘Stelara’ biosimilar ‘Stekimar’ (ingredient name: ustekinumab) ▲ophthalmic disease treatment drug ‘Eylea’ biosimilar ‘Idenselt’ (ingredient name: aflibercept).

Each of these products has recorded sales in the trillions of won in the global market, and through their launch, it is expected that more domestic patients will be able to benefit from treatment at a reasonable price.

Omriclor, which was approved as a ‘first mover’ among Xolair biosimilars in Europe and Korea in May and June respectively, was able to take the lead in the market by being the first product with the same ingredients to be launched in Korea.

Omriclor is prescribed for allergic asthma, chronic idiopathic urticaria, etc., and the two doses of 75 mg and 150 mg are priced at 102,960 won and 195,079 won, respectively, which is about 28% discounted from the original product.

Stekima, which obtained approval in Europe this month following Korea in June, is prescribed in Korea for all indications (Full Label) of the original drug, including plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC). The price of the two doses of prefilled syringe (PFS) formulations, 45 mg/0.5 ml and 90 mg/1 ml, was set at KRW 1,298,290 and KRW 1,342,320, which is about 26% cheaper than the original product.

Idenselt, which was approved in Korea last May, is used for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration, vision loss due to macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion, vision loss due to diabetic macular edema, and vision loss due to choroidal neovascularization due to pathological myopia. The drug price based on the 11.32 mg/0.283 ml dosage was set at 330,000 won, which is about 34% cheaper than the original. In the case of Idenselt, the shelf life was extended to 36 months from the date of manufacture through a separate stability test.

With the launch of this product, Celltrion Pharmaceuticals will be able to strengthen its existing autoimmune disease treatment area and open up new markets such as allergic diseases and ophthalmic diseases, while providing treatment benefits to patients at a relatively lower price compared to the original product.

A Celltrion official said, “Following autoimmune disease treatments and anticancer drugs, we have rapidly expanded our product portfolio to include allergy and ophthalmic disease treatments, allowing us to exert a stronger influence in the domestic biosimilar market.” He added, “We will do our best to ensure that our products can quickly settle into the market through product competitiveness and customized market strategies.”

Medical Today Reporter Choi Yu-jin (gjf256@mdtoday.co.kr)

[저작권자ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]