Celltrion's high-margin new product line is expanding its market influence by successively winning bids not only in major European Union (EU) countries but also in smaller nations. The company has demonstrated product and marketing competitiveness across the bid and retail (sales) markets in Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and elsewhere, accelerating sales growth.
According to Celltrion on the 1st, its autoimmune disease treatment "Aptozuma" (generic name: tocilizumab) won a national bid in Norway, a major Nordic country, proving its market competitiveness from the early stages of launch. Celltrion's Nordic subsidiary plans to supply Aptozuma prefilled syringes (PFS) and auto-injector (AI) formulations to Norway for two years starting from the beginning of this year. Based on this, it is expected to maintain an average market share of 85% in the local tocilizumab market.
In Finland, Aptozuma recorded a 42% market share as of last June in the retail market centered on subcutaneous (SC) formulations. In the intravenous (IV) formulation market, which is bid-centric, the company recently succeeded in winning a bid for the eastern region of Finland, expanding its performance across all formulations. This is the result of Celltrion's Nordic subsidiary conducting active marketing activities targeting medical professionals and institutional investors since launch.
Celltrion's Dutch subsidiary successfully won bids for tocilizumab conducted by IZAAZ, a large pharmaceutical purchasing consortium composed of seven local university hospitals, and SMK, a musculoskeletal and rheumatology specialty hospital, beginning Aptozuma supply in March this year. In addition, the company secured additional orders in the second quarter of this year from ICZON, a southeastern regional pharmaceutical purchasing consortium, and ZRIG, the Dutch Hospital Pharmaceutical Joint Purchasing Body. Through these wins, it has secured supply volumes equivalent to approximately 58% of the local tocilizumab market.
Celltrion's Dutch subsidiary stated, "The network of medical professionals and institutional investors built through the sales of the Remsima product line and Uplyma, an autoimmune disease treatment, worked positively for this order." The company explained that the sales foundation established by existing products has led to the rapid market establishment of new products, further strengthening direct sales competitiveness as its product portfolio expands.
Omrilok and Ocenbelt Expand Supply Contracts in the Nordics
"Omrilok" (generic name: omalizumab), a treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria and allergic asthma launched as a first-mover in Europe, secured exclusive supply rights in a Danish bid and recently succeeded in extending its supply contract. Consequently, Omrilok is expected to maintain a market share of over 98% in the Danish omalizumab market through year-end.
"Ocenbelt" (generic name: denosumab), a bone disease treatment, has also achieved bid results from the early stages of launch in the Nordic region. Ocenbelt was awarded exclusive contracts in national bids conducted in Norway and Denmark, with product supply set to begin in earnest this month.
Celltrion plans to conduct more aggressive marketing activities aimed at expanding its influence across the entire market, as prescription results for its high-margin new product line have been clearly confirmed not only in the EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) but also in other regions. In countries where products are currently on sale, the company aims to continue achieving significant results in remaining bid competitions, while in regions awaiting launch, it plans to achieve early market positioning through meticulous market analysis and preliminary preparation.
Baek Seung-du, head of Celltrion's Nordic subsidiary, said, "Bid results for our new product line are continuing in major Nordic countries, and in some nations, we have secured exclusive supply status and are rapidly expanding our market influence." He added, "Based on differentiated product competitiveness and stable supply capabilities, we will connect bid results to actual sales while continuously strengthening field-oriented sales and marketing activities to expand prescriptions in the retail market, thereby enhancing performance."
in THEBIO
