Celltrion's Remsima SC, Following Remsima, Rapidly Growing as Next-Generation Blockbuster

Celltrion's autoimmune disease treatment Remsima (infliximab) has become South Korea's first global blockbuster drug, and RemsimaSC (U.S. product name: Gymsentra) is now gaining attention as the second strong candidate.

According to the bio industry on the 11th, RemsimaSC is the world's only subcutaneous (SC) formulation of infliximab, a treatment that has been used globally for over 20 years with proven therapeutic efficacy and safety, now enhanced with added convenience. RemsimaSC, which surpassed annual sales of 600 billion KRW for the first time last year, accounts for 17% of total sales and is strengthening its position.

Since its launch in Europe in 2020, RemsimaSC's market share has steadily increased. According to pharmaceutical market research firm IQVIA, RemsimaSC recorded market shares of 6% in 2021, 14% in 2022, and 19% in 2023 in the five major European countries (UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, hereafter EU5), reaching 25% market share in the third quarter of last year.

In particular, it achieved high market shares of 30% and 43% in France and Germany, respectively. During the same period, the Remsima product family (IV and SC formulations), including intravenous (IV) injections, held an overwhelming 79% market share in the EU5.

At the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO), the world's largest inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) conference held last month in Germany, various efficacy data analyzing RemsimaSC were newly confirmed, which is expected to further increase healthcare professionals' trust in the product and their prescribing preference.

Additionally, the proportion of patients switching from competing products to RemsimaSC is increasing, and with the advantage of dosing convenience, the share of new patients is growing, expanding the infliximab market itself. This has raised expectations for RemsimaSC to become the second domestic global blockbuster drug following Remsima.

In the United States, the world's largest pharmaceutical market, Gymsentra's growth is expected to accelerate this year. Since its launch in March last year, Gymsentra secured coverage from all six major public and private insurance plans managed by the three largest U.S. pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) within about seven months, establishing a foundation for reimbursement.

Furthermore, since the end of last year, Celltrion has started media advertising using YouTube and TV to enhance Gymsentra's brand awareness and image in the U.S. TV commercials are broadcast nationwide on major channels, with advertising slots secured before and after major programs such as Major League Baseball (MLB) to maximize exposure.

Alongside this, Gymsentra media advertisements have been posted in hospitals across the U.S., increasing product awareness and preference among patients. Given that Celltrion has achieved significant success in establishing a foundation for expanded prescriptions from the early launch phase, substantial sales performance is expected to follow from this year.

A Celltrion representative stated, “Starting with Remsima, the world's first antibody biosimilar, we have earned great trust globally as a distinguished company with excellent IBD treatments, and the prescribing preference for the follow-up product RemsimaSC is also continuously increasing. We will not be complacent with Remsima, which became the first domestic blockbuster drug, and will further strengthen product sales and marketing activities to consistently achieve results with subsequent products.”