Celltrion Pharm Reports Record High Sales of 477.8 Billion KRW Last Year

Strong Growth in Both Sales and Operating Profit in the Fourth Quarter

Exterior view of Celltrion Pharm factory in Cheongju, Chungbuk. Photo by Celltrion Pharm

Celltrion Pharm announced on the 17th that it recorded approximately KRW 477.8 billion in annual sales and about KRW 37.2 billion in operating profit last year. Sales increased by 22.9% and operating profit by 3.1% compared to the previous year, setting a record high performance.

In the fourth quarter of last year, sales reached approximately KRW 135.6 billion and operating profit about KRW 10.5 billion, growing 42% and 102% respectively compared to the same period last year.

Growth was driven by strong performance of key products and an increased sales proportion of new products, achieving operating profit growth despite workforce expansion and increased R&D expenses. The chemical business division recorded sales of about KRW 204.8 billion, a 23% increase from the previous year. The flagship liver tonic 'Godeks' showed solid results with approximately KRW 66.8 billion, and the hypertension treatment ‘Dilatrend Tablets’, which began full-scale sales last year, recorded about KRW 50.2 billion, leading growth.

During the same period, the biosimilar business division also grew by 18.2%, recording sales of about KRW 86.6 billion. Notably, the autoimmune disease treatment 'Remsima SC', which changed from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) injection, grew 34.3% year-on-year, with Remsima product line sales reaching about KRW 44 billion. The autoimmune disease treatment 'Uplyma' also grew 77% year-on-year, recording KRW 3.6 billion. In the oncology segment, 'Herzuma' performed well with sales of about KRW 21.3 billion, a 42% increase, and 'Vegzelma' secured its market position with sales of about KRW 3.8 billion.

In the contract manufacturing division, commercial production of PFS (Prefilled Syringe) grew 265% year-on-year, recording sales of about KRW 92.6 billion. The expansion of production for SC formulation products supplied to major global markets was a key factor. Celltrion Pharm plans to expand sales by leveraging growth of existing products and market establishment of new products, maximize production facility operations, and secure differentiated competitiveness through active R&D investment.

First, with the market entry of three new biosimilar products in September ? the autoimmune disease treatment 'Stekima', ophthalmic disease treatment 'Idengelt', and allergic asthma treatment 'Omliclo' ? the company plans to strengthen indication-specific data-driven academic marketing. Additionally, production internalization of major acquired products such as the diabetes treatment 'Nesina' and hypertension treatment 'Idalbi' has been completed, and with smooth ongoing production and supply, efforts to enhance profitability are accelerating.

The PFS production facility at the Cheongju plant, which has entered full-scale commercial production, will maximize its operating rate to expand growth. Especially, as demand for major SC injection products like Remsima SC (marketed as Zimpentra in the US) and Uplyma supplied by Celltrion to global markets is rapidly increasing, the company plans to actively respond to growing demand through increased operating rates and production efficiency.

In the R&D sector, focus is on developing improved combination drugs in the diabetes and hypertension treatment fields. For chronic diseases requiring multiple pills at once, combination drugs that combine active ingredients into a single pill to improve convenience are gaining market attention. Recently, the company completed domestic approval procedures for the triple combination drug for hypertension and hyperlipidemia ‘Amrojet Tablets’ and began full-scale sales last month.

A Celltrion Pharm official stated, "Last year was a year of strengthening the foundation of our core products while accelerating market expansion of new products. We will do our best to realize a quantum leap by accelerating the launch of new biosimilar products and R&D innovation."