Celltrion`s biosimilars are expanding its market share in the US market. Johnson & Johnson of the United States announced on April 17 that US sales of Remicade, an autoimmune disease remedy sold by subsidiary Jansen, were only USD 916 million in the first quarter, down 22.5% from the same period last year. Last year, Remicade`s US sales were USD 4.525 billion, down 6.5 % from a year earlier.

Johnson & Johnson said sales declines were due to "increased drug discounts and biosimilar competition."

One of the biggest factors behind the decline in original sales is the increase in market share of biosimilar ramshima (local product name: Infraktra) launched in November 2016 by Celltrion.

Shin Jae-hoon, Best Investment Securities analyst, said, "The decline in US sales of Remicade in the first quarter was the biggest contributor to the market share of biosimilars."

According to Pfizer, which sells Ram Shima in the US, Ramshima sold USD 44 million in the fourth quarter and USD 118 million in the US last year. As of the end of last year, Ramushima`s US original market share was 5.6%. In Europe, which released Ramcima earlier, it has already been surpassed by its share of the original Remicade.

According to market researcher Iqvia, Lamshima had a 52% market share in Europe in the fourth quarter of last year.

US President Trump will continue to be interested in lowering US prices for expensive drugs, which will affect the expansion of the biosimilars market.

Scott Gottliev, director of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), last month, said, "We plan to announce twelve policies to stimulate the biosimilars market."

By Kim Ji Seob cloud50@


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