[Kyoto (Japan) = E-Daily Reporter KIM SAE-MI ] Competition among global pharmaceutical companies for the global allergy treatment market heated up in Kyoto, Japan. While multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis and Sanofi showcased their next-generation drugs, the South Korean company Celltrion(068270)made its presence known by unveiling Japan’s first omalizumab biosimilar. Attention is now focused on whether the entry of biosimilars into the high-cost biologics market will reshape the allergy treatment market.

The World Allergy Congress (WAC 2026), jointly hosted by the World Allergy Organization (WAO), the Japanese Society of Allergy (JSA), and the Asia-Pacific Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology (APAPARI), concluded its four-day program on the 18th. Held at the Kyoto International Conference Center (ICC Kyoto) starting on the 15th, the event drew thousands of healthcare professionals and researchers specializing in allergies from around the world. Under the theme “Toward the Future of Allergy: Broader and Deeper,” the latest research findings and treatment strategies were shared.

From Biologics to Biosimilars… Discussing the Future of Allergy Treatment

At this conference, new treatment strategies for major allergic diseases—including asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and chronic urticaria—were the focus of intensive discussion. In particular, attention was drawn to the role of biologics for patients whose symptoms are not adequately controlled by existing treatments, as well as measures to improve access to high-cost therapies.

At the educational seminar on omalizumab held on the 16th, changes in the paradigm of allergy treatment were introduced. Professor Kimihiro Okubo of Nippon Medical School, who served as the moderator, quoted a past statement by a Japanese allergist, explaining, “If immunotherapy is precision bombing, then omalizumab is like a carpet bombing.” This means that, unlike immunotherapy—which modulates the immune response to specific allergens—omalizumab targets immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is involved in allergic reactions.

Kayoko Kawashima, Head of the Department of Otolaryngology at the Osaka Habikino Medical Center, emphasized that allergic rhinitis affects not only patients’ quality of life but also labor productivity. She explained that while biologics can help improve symptoms, the high cost of treatment poses a burden, making biosimilars a potential new treatment option.

Professor Yasuhiro Gon of Nihon University introduced the potential use of omalizumab in patients with severe asthma whose symptoms are not adequately controlled even with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). He also highlighted the importance of a treatment strategy that comprehensively considers factors such as the patient’s allergen sensitization status, total IgE levels, and body weight.

Celltrion Unveils Japan’s First Omalizumab Biosimilar at the World Allergy Congress

Another highlight of the conference was the intense competition among global pharmaceutical companies to promote allergy treatments through their exhibition booths. Each company went to great lengths to attract the attention of local healthcare professionals by highlighting the clinical strengths of their flagship products and differentiated treatment strategies. With a wide range of therapies introduced—from new drugs with novel mechanisms of action to biosimilars emphasizing price competitiveness—the competitive landscape of the allergy treatment market became evident.

Celltrion(068270), the only domestic company to set up a standalone booth at this conference, prominently featured “Omriclo,” an omalizumab biosimilar set for launch in Japan later this year. The company expanded its engagement with local healthcare professionals by emphasizing that Omriclo is the first omalizumab biosimilar to receive approval in Japan.

At the event, healthcare professionals continuously inquired about Omriclo’s price and launch date. Jeong Hae-won, Deputy General Manager of the Oncology & Bio Marketing Team at Celltrion’s Global Sales Division, stated, “Healthcare professionals visiting our booth asked about pricing the most,” adding, “It is currently priced 40% lower than the original drug, ‘Xolair.’”

Novartis drew attention by promoting “Lapsido,” a treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria, instead of its existing flagship product, “Xolair.” Lapsido, a new drug launched in Japan on the 14th, is an oral Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor. The company emphasized its differentiation as an oral medication—unlike Xolair, which is an injectable—and its novel mechanism of action. At this conference, the company focused its marketing efforts so heavily on Rapcido that promotional materials for Xolair were hard to find.

Sanofi placed a strong emphasis on expanding the treatment of pediatric patients by highlighting “Dupixent,” a treatment for atopic dermatitis. They highlighted the importance of treating pediatric atopic dermatitis by setting up a child-friendly space in one corner of their booth, designed to resemble a children’s playroom. Dupixent is a biologic used to treat various inflammatory conditions, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and chronic rhinosinusitis, and is considered one of Sanofi’s key growth drivers.

In addition, global pharmaceutical companies such as GSK and AstraZeneca set up booths to introduce their products and treatment strategies in the fields of allergies and respiratory diseases, thereby expanding their engagement with local healthcare professionals.

Participants noted that this conference demonstrated how the treatment of allergic diseases is expanding beyond mere symptom relief to include personalized treatment, improved quality of life, and reduced financial burden on patients. An official from the biotech industry stated, “This conference showed that new drugs with novel mechanisms of action and biosimilars are emerging as new variables in the allergy treatment market,” adding, “It will be interesting to see what changes occur in actual prescribing practices.”