Celltrion said Monday that it is continuing to strengthen its biosimilar presence in Japan, one of Asia’s key pharmaceutical markets, by steadily increasing prescription volumes.
With additional product launches expected this year, the company is poised to further expand its portfolio and sustain growth momentum in the Japanese market, the company said.
Anticancer drug Vegzelma (Courtesy of Celltrion)
According to IQVIA and local market data, Celltrion’s metastatic colorectal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, Vegzelma (bevacizumab), recorded a 64 percent market share in Japan in March this year, based on prescription volume. The product surpassed the 50 percent threshold last September and has since gained more than 14 percentage points within roughly six months, demonstrating rapid growth.
Vegzelma’s performance in Japan is attracting attention because it has successfully overcome the disadvantage of being a late market entrant.
Although the biosimilar was launched in late 2022 -- nearly two years after first-mover competitors -- it secured the top market share position through product differentiation and aggressive marketing. The achievement is considered particularly meaningful given the intense competition among five bevacizumab products, including the originator drug Avastin.
The company attributed Vegzelma's rapid success to its effective use of Japan’s biosimilar-friendly healthcare reimbursement system.
Industry observers also noted that Japan’s Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) payment system for oncology drugs played a favorable role in expanding prescriptions. Under the DPC system, hospitals can improve profitability by prescribing more cost-competitive anticancer treatments, while the government and patients benefit from lower healthcare expenditures and reduced out-of-pocket costs. As a result, hospitals, the government and patients all benefit from broader biosimilar adoption.
Celltrion’s other major oncology biosimilar, Herzuma (trastuzumab), has also maintained its leading position in Japan with a 76 percent market share, supported by the same reimbursement environment.
The company is also continuing to post strong performances in the autoimmune disease segment. Celltrion’s flagship products, Remsima (infliximab) and Yuflyma (adalimumab), currently hold biosimilar market shares of 44 percent and 19 percent, respectively, in Japan.
Celltrion plans to strengthen synergies across its autoimmune disease portfolio by expanding its marketed product lineup. Following the launch of Avtozma (tocilizumab) late last month, the company now sells four treatments for autoimmune diseases in Japan, including Steqeyma (ustekinumab). Because physicians often prescribe multiple products within the same therapeutic category, Celltrion aims to leverage its existing sales experience and marketing expertise to accelerate the market penetration of newly launched products.
Celltrion expects its market influence in Japan to continue to strengthen.
Omlyclo (omalizumab), which received regulatory approval from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) in March, is being prepared for launch in the second half of this year. In addition, Remsima SC, the world’s only subcutaneous (SC) formulation of infliximab, is also scheduled to enter the Japanese market. The company expects both new and existing products to accelerate growth through marketing synergies across its expanding portfolio.
“Through a detailed understanding of the local healthcare market, tailored business strategies, and strong product competitiveness, Vegzelma -- despite being the latest entrant -- has continued to widen its lead as the No. 1 product in market share," a Celltrion official said. "We will also do our utmost to ensure that newly launched products successfully establish themselves in the market by building on the performance of our existing portfolio.”
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Anticancer drug Vegzelma (Courtesy of Celltrion)
Lee Han-soo
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