Celltrion's 'Herzuma' and 'Truxima' Win Brazilian Public Bids for Two Consecutive Years

Celtreon anticancer drug 'Herzuma' finished product process scene. / Incheon - Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Celltrion Group's anticancer biosimilars 'Herzuma' (generic name 'Trastuzumab') and 'Truxima' (generic name 'Rituximab') have succeeded in winning public healthcare tenders in Brazil for two consecutive years.

Celltrion Healthcare announced on the 2nd that it had succeeded in winning tenders for Herzuma and Truxima for two consecutive years in Brazil, the largest pharmaceutical market in Latin America. If successful in the tender, the drugs will be supplied for use in the public healthcare market provided by the federal or state governments.

In particular, in the case of the trastuzumab tender, last year the Brazilian federal government signed contracts with Celltrion Healthcare and one other company, but this year it signed an exclusive contract with Celltrion Healthcare. As a result, Celltrion Healthcare will exclusively supply Herzuma to the public healthcare market, which accounts for 80% of the Brazilian trastuzumab market.

Truxima has also been evaluated as steadily expanding its market by winning tenders from eight state governments, including S?o Paulo, the largest state public healthcare market in Brazil.

Incheon Songdo Celltrion Plant 2 Overview. / Incheon - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

Based on these achievements, Celltrion Healthcare plans to accelerate the expansion of the Latin American market. In Colombia, where the regional headquarters for Latin America is located, direct sales of Remsima (generic name 'Infliximab') began last March, and direct sales were expanded to Truxima and Herzuma in June and July. In addition, direct sales are scheduled to begin in Peru and Chile from the third quarter.

A Celltrion Healthcare official said, “Through long-accumulated prescription data verified in the global market, along with the proven efficacy and safety of ‘Herzuma’ and competitive pricing policies, ‘Herzuma’ has emerged as a promising treatment, achieving the meaningful accomplishment of securing a leading position in Brazil’s major market for two consecutive years. We will also devote all efforts to leading the expansion of prescriptions for subsequent products in the global market.”