Celltrion’s Remsima captures 48% of Japan’s market... Company expands push into Asia and Latin America

[Financial News] Celltrion is expanding biosimilar sales in key markets in Japan, Asia and Latin America. Building on the market share of its existing products, the company plans to increase launches of follow-on products and diversify its revenue base, which is concentrated in the United States and Europe.
On the 20th, industry sources said Celltrion was continuing its strong earnings momentum, buoyed by expanded sales in the United States and Europe and growth in high-margin follow-on products.
In Japan, Remsima, a treatment for autoimmune diseases whose active ingredient is infliximab, recorded a 48% market share as of July this year, overtaking the originator drug to become the leading product in the infliximab prescription market. Cancer drugs Herzuma (trastuzumab) and Vegzelma (bevacizumab) also recorded market shares of 78% and 64%, respectively.
The company’s flagship products also posted high market shares in other Asian countries. As of the first quarter of this year, Remsima had market shares of 93% in Singapore, 84% in Hong Kong, 78% in Thailand and 72% in Malaysia. Truxima (rituximab) accounted for 93% in Singapore and 78% in Thailand, while Herzuma secured shares of 51% in Malaysia and 42% in Thailand.
In Latin America, Remsima’s share of Brazil’s private market reached about 60%. In Costa Rica, Remsima and Truxima each recorded market shares close to 100%. The company said its key products had also secured shares exceeding 80% in Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay and other countries.
Celltrion is also expanding launches of follow-on products by leveraging the sales base of its existing products. In Japan, it has launched an intravenous (IV) formulation of Steqeyma (ustekinumab) and plans to launch Remsima SC in 2027. In Thailand, it is pursuing the launch of Omlyclo (omalizumab), a treatment for allergic diseases, and Stoboclo and Osenvelt (denosumab), treatments for bone diseases. It is also preparing to launch Steqeyma in Malaysia and Singapore.
In Latin America, Celltrion plans to expand new product launches and participation in public-sector tenders. As of the third quarter of this year, it operated subsidiaries in 43 countries worldwide, 13 of them in growth markets including Asia and Latin America. Its local workforce in Japan has also grown to around 80 people.
Celltrion plans to drive revenue growth and improve profitability by maintaining the market share of its existing products while expanding the sales regions for its follow-on products.
A Celltrion representative stressed, "Remsima overtaking the originator drug to become the market-share leader in Japan, along with our securing high market shares in key countries across Asia and Latin America, shows that Celltrion’s product competitiveness and global sales strategy are delivering tangible results." The representative added, "Following the United States and Europe, we will accelerate new product launches in Asia and Latin America as well, diversify our global growth drivers, and deliver sustained revenue growth and greater profitability." 

[email protected] Jeong Sang-hee Reporter