Celltrion Signs Listing Agreement for 'Aptosma' with Major U.S. PBM

Listed as a Preferred Drug in the Synergie Collective Formulary

Celltrion announced on December 12 that its autoimmune disease treatment, Aptosma (ingredient: tocilizumab), has been listed in the formulary of Synergie Collective (Synergie), one of the top five pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the United States, securing reimbursement coverage at the initial stage of its launch.

Aptosma. Celltrion

The product listed this time is the intravenous (IV) formulation of Aptosma, which has been designated as a preferred drug eligible for priority prescription in all public and private insurance formularies managed by Synergie. Starting in January next year, patients will be able to receive reimbursement, enabling rapid expansion of prescriptions and allowing Celltrion to quickly secure early market coverage.

With this achievement, Celltrion has now secured its second major coverage since the October launch of Aptosma, following its inclusion in the formulary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, a leading U.S. insurer. By obtaining consecutive coverage from both a key insurer and a major PBM within just about two months of launch, the product's competitiveness has been demonstrated. This is expected to have a positive effect on ongoing negotiations for listing with other major PBMs.

Celltrion's U.S. subsidiary has already strengthened its professional workforce to drive prescription growth for Aptosma in its primary indication, rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of Aptosma is scheduled for launch in the first half of next year, and Celltrion plans to accelerate market penetration by leveraging enhanced sales competitiveness and marketing capabilities.

In addition to Aptosma, Celltrion's other flagship autoimmune disease treatment, Yuflyma (ingredient: adalimumab), is also achieving strong results in being listed with major PBMs. The U.S. subsidiary of Celltrion announced that Yuflyma has been included in the public insurance formularies of two of the top three PBMs in the United States. With a robust autoimmune disease pipeline and stable reimbursement coverage, Celltrion expects that prescriptions by healthcare professionals will continue to expand.

PBMs, which have the authority to determine drug reimbursement in the U.S. pharmaceutical market, wield significant influence. In particular, the top five PBMs account for over 90% of the entire market, making contracts with them a key factor for success in the U.S. Celltrion continues to strengthen its influence by building close networks with these major PBMs as it markets its key products.

A Celltrion representative stated, "All of the products we launched in the U.S. market this year, including Aptosma, Stekima, and Stovoclo-Osenbelt, have been smoothly listed in major PBM formularies, laying the foundation for accelerated patient prescriptions. As we expect to expand sales of high-margin follow-up products, we will make every effort to achieve a new level of performance growth."