Celltrion is strengthening its presence in the Japanese oncology drug market, demonstrating substantial achievements with its biosimilars.
On June 13, Celltrion announced that its biosimilar oncology drugs, Herzuma (generic name: trastuzumab) and Vegzelma (generic name: bevacizumab), are rapidly expanding their market share, proving their competitiveness in the treatment fields of breast cancer, gastric cancer, and metastatic colorectal cancer.
According to IQVIA and local Japanese market statistics as of June 13, Herzuma maintained its leadership with a 75% market share among trastuzumab-based therapies in Japan as of April. This dominance has continued for four consecutive years since it first surpassed the market share of the original drug in the second quarter of 2021. Currently, there are five trastuzumab-based products available in Japan, reinforcing Herzuma's unmatched position.
Vegzelma, a later market entrant, is also displaying significant growth. Released in the Japanese market in January 2023, Vegzelma achieved a 29% market share by April, showcasing rapid growth in a short period. Despite being the latest among the six bevacizumab-based products available in Japan, Vegzelma has quickly increased its prescription share through localized marketing strategies and product competitiveness, with the gap to the market leader narrowed to just 2 percentage points.
Celltrion's success is attributed to a tailored strategy reflecting the characteristics of the Japanese pharmaceutical market and supportive policies for biosimilars. Especially effective has been the use of Japan's Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) system, where hospitals can convert cost savings from using more affordable drugs into profit, creating an environment favorable for expanding biosimilar prescriptions.
Beyond oncology, Celltrion is also cementing its foothold in the Japanese market for autoimmune disease treatments. Celltrion's infliximab biosimilar, Remsima, led prescriptions with a 41% market share as of April, while the adalimumab biosimilar Yuflyma also achieved a 12% market share in the same period, growing by 1.5 times in just four months.
A Celltrion representative stated, "Japan is a market where hospital-centered sales activities are crucial, and our direct sales strategies focusing on local personnel have been effective. We will focus our efforts on ensuring the rapid market establishment of our upcoming autoimmune disease treatment 'Steqeyma®' (active ingredient: ustekinumab), building on the success of our existing products."
