Celltrion Proves Direct Sales Competitiveness in Italy as Biosimilar Orders Expand

[Financial News] Celltrion is strengthening its direct sales competitiveness in Italy, one of Europe’s key markets, by expanding orders and supply of its new biosimilar lineup. As bidding results for new products lead to actual supply and higher prescriptions, the company is broadening its presence in the European market.
According to Celltrion on the 31st, Omlyclo, a treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria and allergic asthma launched late last year, is rapidly expanding sales in major regions of Italy. Celltrion’s Italian unit has begun selling Omlyclo in 15 regions, and in seven of them it has signed supply contracts with local governments as the sole supplier of omalizumab products.
In some regions, sales are rising faster than initially expected. In Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, cumulative Omlyclo sales from January to May this year exceeded the total volume of omalizumab prescribed in Italy during the same period last year. In Apulia and Umbria, Celltrion expects Omlyclo to account for more than 80% of the region’s annual omalizumab supply by the end of the year.
If supply expands to other regions where bidding and contract procedures are still under way, Omlyclo’s prescription growth is expected to accelerate further. Celltrion said it expects Omlyclo not only to replace existing originator drugs, but also to expand the market itself by improving access to omalizumab treatments.
Bidding results for autoimmune disease treatments launched last year are also continuing. Steqeyma, whose active ingredient is Ustekinumab, has won bids and is now being sold in nine regions, while Avtozma, whose active ingredient is Tocilizumab, has secured orders in seven of the nine regions where bidding has taken place. Avtozma is expected to begin full-scale supply and prescriptions in the second half of the year, once contract procedures are completed.
Existing products are also maintaining stable sales momentum. Yuflyma, an autoimmune disease treatment, and Vegzelma, an anticancer drug, recorded market shares of 46% and 66%, respectively, in Italy in the first quarter of this year. According to IQVIA, both products remain No. 1 in local market share.
Sales growth across Italy and the rest of Europe has also supported Celltrion’s earnings improvement. Starting with bidding wins for its new high-margin product lineup, the company has seen supply volumes and prescriptions rise, helping drive second-quarter growth.
Woo Won-sik, head of Celltrion’s Italian unit, said, "New product lines, including Omlyclo, are gaining bidding wins in key regions, and product supply and sales are now in full swing." He added, "In the second half, we will expand our bidding participation and supply regions to strengthen the market position of our new biosimilars and continue our growth in Italy."

[email protected] Reporter Jung Sang-hee Reporter