Celltrion announced on the 13th that its breast cancer and gastric cancer treatment Herzuma recorded a 75% market share in Japan as of April.
According to the pharmaceutical market research agency IQVIA and local market data, Herzuma has maintained the number one prescription spot for four consecutive years since it first surpassed the market share of the original product in the second quarter of 2021. Herzuma is a biosimilar of Roche's breast cancer and gastric cancer treatment Herceptin (ingredient name trastuzumab).
Vegzelma, a treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer and breast cancer, accounted for a 29% market share during the same period. Launched in Japan in January 2023, Vegzelma has narrowed the market share gap with the current number one prescribed product to 2 percentage points.
The autoimmune disease treatments are also leading in the Japanese market competition. As of April, Remsima recorded a 41% market share, achieving the number one spot for biosimilar prescriptions. 'Uplyma' also achieved a 12% market share during the same period, growing from 8% to 12% in just four months.
Celltrion analyzed that its performance was driven by tailored sales activities of local subsidiaries and partners, as well as biosimilar-friendly policies that consider the characteristics of the Japanese pharmaceutical market.
A company official said, 'We plan to launch the ustekinumab autoimmune disease treatment Steqeyma in Japan this year,' adding, 'We will leverage the experience and know-how gained from selling existing products to quickly continue achieving results with new products.'