Celltrion announced on the 12th that its autoimmune disease treatment 'Stelara (active ingredient ustekinumab)' has successfully secured additional contracts in the Italian regional government tenders. Following the selection of Stelara by four Italian regional governments earlier this year, three additional regional governments, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Sardegna, have awarded contracts to Stelara. The supply of products to these regions will continue until May next year.

Stelara, which is supplied to seven regions in Italy alone, has shown rapid growth in the local market based on its tender achievements since its official launch in January this year.

Celltrion's other autoimmune disease treatment, the 'Remsima (active ingredient infliximab)' product line (IV, SC), is also performing well in the Italian market. Remsima was awarded in the Umbria region tender, and a renewal contract for the supply of Remsima SC was concluded in the Puglia region. With the introduction of Remsima SC in the previously unsupplied Sardegna region, all 20 regional governments in Italy have now chosen the Remsima product line.

The tender achievements are positively impacting prescription expansion. According to the pharmaceutical market research agency IQVIA, Remsima and Remsima SC recorded a combined market share of 66% in Italy in the first quarter of this year, significantly outperforming other products.

The autoimmune disease treatment 'Yuflyma (adalimumab)' is also contributing to growth. It is currently being sold in the Lazio and Umbria regions, with product supply expected to continue over the next 2-3 years. Despite being launched approximately three years later than competing products, it has captured a market share of around 52%, leading the market.

Celltrion attributes the growth in the Italian market to its localized direct sales strategy centered around its local subsidiary. Since 2020, Celltrion has implemented a direct sales system in Italy. By forming close relationships with local tender agencies and key medical personnel, and leveraging flexible pricing strategies, supply stability, and product competitiveness, it has actively conducted marketing. The company expects further acceleration in performance growth with the launch of new products.

Yoo Won-sik, head of Celltrion's Italian subsidiary, stated, "We have built high trust with local medical professionals in Italy, a major European market, and based on this, we are continuously strengthening our market influence by securing successive contracts for autoimmune disease treatments and anticancer drugs. In the second half of the year, we will continue to expand prescriptions and grow performance by launching new products and achieving tender successes."

Meanwhile, Celltrion reported that its anticancer product line is also performing well in the Italian market. Truxima (rituximab) and Vegzelma (bevacizumab) have been awarded in the Lazio and Umbria region tenders, respectively, and have been supplied since the first half of this year. Their market shares were recorded at 29% and 30%, respectively. The breast and gastric cancer treatment Herzuma (trastuzumab) also showed a market share of 29%, establishing a stable foothold for the three anticancer drugs in the European market.

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