Celltrion Launches 'Avtozma' in the US, Accelerates Market Penetration

[Financial News] Celltrion is ramping up its efforts to enter the US autoimmune disease treatment market.
Earlier this month, Celltrion officially launched its interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor 'Avtozma' (ingredient: Tocilizumab) in the US, marking the beginning of a full-scale competition for early market leadership, the company announced on the 13th.
The newly launched Avtozma is an intravenous (IV) formulation and is being sold directly through Celltrion’s US subsidiary. The company set the wholesale acquisition cost (High WAC) about 35% lower than the original drug, aiming to secure both competitiveness and profitability. Based on this pricing strategy, Celltrion plans to achieve early market penetration.
Avtozma is a biopharmaceutical that inhibits the IL-6 protein, which triggers inflammatory responses in the body. It has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the full label of indications identical to the original drug, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), giant cell arteritis (GCA), systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA/pJIA), COVID-19, and cytokine release syndrome (CRS).
Following the IV formulation, a subcutaneous (SC) version is also expected to be introduced to the US market soon.
The product has shown results immediately after launch. It was listed as a preferred drug in the formulary of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBS) in the State of Minnesota, improving insurance reimbursement accessibility.
BCBS is the largest insurance association in the US with over 100 million members. With its listing in the State of Minnesota, there is growing anticipation that coverage will expand to other states as well.
In addition to BCBS, Celltrion is negotiating with the three largest Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) companies and major insurers in the US, expecting further formulary listings in the near future.
Notably, Celltrion has previously introduced a series of autoimmune disease treatments such as Zymfentra (infliximab), Yuflyma (adalimumab), and Steqeyma (ustekinumab), establishing distribution and marketing channels. With the launch of Avtozma, the company aims to leverage its existing network to quickly expand its market influence.
Celltrion is also expanding its specialized workforce to strengthen sales in the rheumatoid arthritis segment. By introducing the SC formulation, the company seeks to enhance patient convenience and personalized care, while pursuing a multi-layered marketing strategy that covers hospitals, pharmacies, and other key distribution channels.
Thomas Nusbickel, Chief Commercial Officer of Celltrion USA, stated, “We will actively promote the early market establishment of Avtozma by leveraging the network and marketing capabilities built through our direct sales products. By providing high-quality biopharmaceuticals at reasonable prices, we aim to enhance Celltrion’s credibility in the US healthcare market.”
Meanwhile, the original drug for Avtozma, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG (Roche)’s Actemra (tocilizumab), achieved global sales of 4.5 trillion KRW last year, with more than half of that generated in the US market.
Considering Actemra’s sales volume in the US, Celltrion anticipates rapid market share growth in the future.

vrdw88@fnnews.com Kang Jung-mo Reporter