On the 31st, Celltrion announced that “Omniclo” (active ingredient: omalizumab), a treatment for chronic idiopathic urticaria and allergic asthma, is being sold in a total of 15 regions across Italy through Celltrion’s Italian subsidiary. In seven of these regions, Celltrion is the only omalizumab supplier to have signed supply contracts with the regional governments.
Since its launch in the Italian market late last year, Omriclo has recorded sales figures exceeding expectations in some regions. In Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, cumulative sales of Omriclo from January through May of this year exceeded the total volume of omalizumab prescriptions during the same period last year. In Puglia and Umbria, Omriclo is expected to account for more than 80% of the total annual omalizumab supply in those regions by the end of the year.
If supply is expanded to other regions where bidding and contracting procedures are currently underway, the growth in Omriclo prescriptions is expected to accelerate further. Celltrion believes that Omriclo will not only replace demand for the existing original drug but also contribute to market expansion by broadening the prescription base for omalizumab treatments.
Celltrion is also continuing its success in tenders for new autoimmune disease treatments launched last year. “Stekima” (active ingredient: ustekinumab) has been awarded contracts and is now being sold in a total of nine states, while “Aptozma” (active ingredient: tocilizumab) has successfully secured contracts in seven of the nine states where bidding took place. Supply and prescribing of Aptozma are expected to ramp up in earnest in the second half of the year, once the contract procedures are finalized.
Existing products—the autoimmune disease treatment “Uplima” (active ingredient: adalimumab) and the anticancer drug “Vegzelma” (active ingredient: bevacizumab)—are also showing steady sales trends. According to IQVIA, a pharmaceutical market research firm, Uplima and Vegzelma recorded market shares of 46% and 66%, respectively, in Italy during the first quarter of this year. This means both products hold the top market share in their respective categories locally.
Celltrion explained that expanded sales in European markets, including Italy, contributed to its record-breaking earnings growth in the second quarter of this year. This was particularly driven by a sequential increase in supply volumes and prescriptions following the successful bidding for high-margin new product lines, such as Omriclo.
As contracts and product shipments for recently secured regions are set to ramp up in earnest starting in the second half of the year, growth centered on new biosimilars is expected to continue.
Yoo Won-sik, Head of Celltrion Italy, stated, “Our new product lines, including Omriclo, are achieving success in tenders across key regions, and as a result, product supply and sales are gaining momentum, allowing us to rapidly capture the local market.” He added, “In the second half of the year, we will do our utmost to strengthen the position of our new biosimilars and sustain our growth in the Italian market by participating in tenders and expanding our supply regions.”
