[Edaily Reporter NA EUN-KYUNG ] Celltrion(068270)posted record-high quarterly results for both revenue and operating profit in the third quarter of this year. As sales of new, high-margin biosimilar products expanded, the growth rate of operating profit outpaced that of revenue.

Celltrion announced on the 27th that it posted consolidated revenue of 1.5755 trillion won and operating profit of 525.3 billion won for the third quarter of this year. These figures represent year-over-year increases of 53.1% and 74.3%, respectively. The operating profit margin stood at 33.3%, up 4.0 percentage points from the same period last year.

Compared to the preliminary results announced on the 12th, revenue increased by 75.5 billion won and operating profit by 15.3 billion won. At the time of the preliminary results announcement, revenue was 1.5 trillion won and operating profit was 510 billion won.

The improvement in earnings was driven by expanded sales of new product lines. Third-quarter revenue from new product lines reached 905.8 billion won, an increase of approximately 74% compared to the same period last year. New products accounted for 67% of total biopharmaceutical revenue, up 13 percentage points from the same period last year and 2 percentage points from the previous quarter. Celltrion projects this share will reach 70% by the end of the year.

Looking at key products, combined third-quarter sales of “Remsima SC,” a subcutaneous formulation of infliximab, and “Zimpentra,” sold in the U.S., totaled 254.2 billion won, a 19% increase year-over-year. Cumulative sales through the third quarter of this year reached 710.4 billion won, drawing attention to whether the company will achieve annual sales of 1 trillion won.

Third-quarter sales of “Uplima,” a treatment for autoimmune diseases, rose 27% year-over-year to 183.2 billion won. According to Celltrion, Uplima held a market share of approximately 22% in Europe as of the second quarter of this year.

The growth of “Omriclo,” a treatment for allergic diseases, was also notable. Omriclo’s cumulative sales for the third quarter of this year reached 320.5 billion won, a 542.3% increase from the 49.9 billion won recorded in the same period last year. This was driven by the company securing tenders in major European countries by leveraging the advantage of being a biosimilar launched before the originator drug in Europe.

Omliclo is currently sold in 26 European countries, and according to Celltrion, its market share in Spain exceeds 90%. It was also launched in the U.S. earlier this month. As the first omalizumab biosimilar in the U.S., it has secured the same indications and interchangeable status as the originator drug.

Another biosimilar, “Aptozma,” also recently signed a supply agreement with a major U.S. healthcare company, expanding its local distribution network. Celltrion expects the U.S. launch of Omriclo and the expansion of Aptozma’s supply channels to contribute to its fourth-quarter earnings.

Along with expanding biosimilar sales, Celltrion is also investing in the development of new drugs, such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The company explained that it recorded its highest quarterly operating profit even after accounting for R&D expenses and the operating costs of its global direct sales organization.

A Celltrion spokesperson said, “We expect to maintain our growth momentum in the fourth quarter, driven by an increased share of high-margin new products in sales and the expansion of our sales regions, including the U.S. launch of Omriclo.”