Celltrion announced on the 19th that its infliximab subcutaneous (SC) formulation therapy “Zymfentra” has been listed as a preferred drug on the formulary of Evernorth Health Services in the United States. The listing has been applied since January 1 of this year.

Evernorth Health Services is a healthcare services company under the Cigna Group and is a leading U.S. healthcare company that operates Express Scripts, one of the three major pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the United States, as well as the major insurer Cigna Healthcare.

Following its earlier agreement with Express Scripts to list Zymfentra as a preferred drug, Celltrion has now expanded the prescription base across Cigna-affiliated insurance policyholders through Zymfentra’s inclusion in Evernorth’s formulary.

As a result, Cigna-affiliated policyholders will be able to receive prescriptions for Zymfentra without going through stringent prior authorization procedures. Celltrion expects that this will reduce the prescribing burden for healthcare professionals and significantly improve patients’ access to the drug.

Since its U.S. launch in 2024, Zymfentra has recorded an average monthly prescription growth rate of 31%, demonstrating rapid expansion. As of December last year, prescription volume at hospitals and other medical institutions had increased to nearly five times that of the same period a year earlier. Celltrion explained that this performance is attributable to the expansion of contracts with key PBMs and insurers across reimbursement channels, and that it currently covers more than 90% of the U.S. reimbursement market.

Celltrion’s existing autoimmune disease treatment “Inflectra” (U.S. product name of Remsima) has also maintained steady performance after being listed as a preferred drug on the formulary of major U.S. insurer UnitedHealthcare. As of December last year, Inflectra held about a 30% share of the U.S. market and remains the leading biosimilar in terms of prescriptions. Reimbursement for Inflectra is scheduled to begin on February 1.

Celltrion plans to expand its U.S. autoimmune disease treatment portfolio with Zymfentra and Inflectra at the center. Steckima (ustekinumab) and Aptozyma (tocilizumab), which were launched in the U.S. last year, are prescribed by many of the same physicians as existing products, and the company expects synergies in sales and marketing.

A Celltrion official said, “With Zymfentra and Inflectra listed as preferred drugs on the formularies of major U.S. insurers, we have secured a stable reimbursement base,” adding, “We will further strengthen our penetration of the U.S. autoimmune disease market through the launch of high-margin follow-on products and new products.”

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