Celltrion Healthcare's 'Herzuma' Achieves 40% Market Share in Japan

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Celltrion Healthcare announced on the 20th that its biosimilar for breast cancer and gastric cancer treatment, Herzuma (generic name: Trastuzumab), recorded a 40% market share in Japan last month.

According to Celltrion Healthcare, Herzuma achieved this market share in the 400 billion KRW scale Japanese trastuzumab market. Currently, the Japanese trastuzumab biosimilar market includes a total of three products: Herzuma, along with two biosimilars from Amgen and Pfizer.

Since the end of 2017, Celltrion Healthcare has been targeting the Japanese market by introducing a joint marketing system where its local subsidiary and partner Nippon Kayaku each sell the product.

Nippon Kayaku sells Herzuma through existing major pharmaceutical supply chains in Japan, while Celltrion Healthcare targets individual hospitals.

In August last year, Celltrion Healthcare added the breast cancer indication and obtained approval for all treatment purposes identical to the original drug.

A Celltrion Healthcare official stated, "Despite the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we have continued our business without significant impact," and added, "We have achieved the valuable result of a 40% market share within seven months after obtaining full indication approval in August last year."