Celltrion announced on the 26th that it has signed exclusive supply agreements with a major U.S. healthcare company for “Omlyclo” (ingredient name: omalizumab), a treatment for allergic diseases, and “Aptozma” (ingredient name: tocilizumab), a treatment for autoimmune diseases. The two products were selected as supply products over the original reference drugs.

Celltrion’s U.S. subsidiary signed exclusive supply contracts earlier this month with a major local healthcare company for the Omlyclo pre-filled syringe (PFS) formulation and all formulations (IV·SC) of Aptozma. The company owns large hospitals, insurers, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), providing key channels that can link insurance reimbursement with supply to medical institutions.

The two products have been supplied and covered by insurance reimbursement starting this month. Under the contracts, they are listed as preferred drugs in the relevant insurer’s formulary and supplied to its affiliated medical institutions. As a result, insured patients can receive treatment with the two products under insurance benefits upon prescription by healthcare professionals.

Previously, Celltrion had supplied its bone disease treatments “Stoquelo·Ocenbelt” (ingredient name: denosumab) to large hospitals under the same healthcare company, building a cooperative relationship. Celltrion stated that the local network established through the supply of existing products had a positive impact on the new product agreements.

Omlyclo secures sales network for 74 million members of major U.S. distributor

Omlyclo has also entered the sales network of a large U.S. global distribution company. Celltrion signed a supply agreement with the company earlier this month and began selling the product at in-store pharmacies.

Through this agreement, Omlyclo has entered an insurance channel covering approximately 350,000 employees and dependents enrolled in the company’s health insurance. Except for a limited number of prescriptions requiring vial formulations, it has been listed as an exclusive preferred drug over the original reference product.

In addition, it has been registered in a pharmaceutical discount program that serves about 74 million members. Uninsured individuals and dependents can purchase Omlyclo at discounted prices at the company’s pharmacies and affiliated pharmacies.

Omlyclo is the first omalizumab biosimilar launched in the United States. From the initial launch, Celltrion has been targeting both insured and out-of-pocket markets in parallel to expand its sales channels.

Negotiations to add listings with major PBMs near completion…sales expansion expected in Q4

Celltrion is currently in negotiations with multiple major pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) over formulary listings for the new products. As the talks are in their final stages, the company expects to conclude additional agreements within the fourth quarter.

If additional contracts are signed, new insurance reimbursement networks will be added to the healthcare and distribution channels already secured, expanding the prescription base in the U.S. market.

Celltrion is leveraging its direct sales network in the United States to extend the sales experience and relationships built with existing products to the new products. In particular, it plans to increase the sales share of high-margin new products to drive revenue growth and improve profitability in its U.S. business.

Kim Bon-joong, CEO of Celltrion’s U.S. subsidiary, said, “Omlyclo and Aptozma have been demonstrating product competitiveness and direct sales capabilities by entering the supply channels of major healthcare and distribution companies from the early stages of their U.S. launches,” adding, “We will translate the confirmed supply contracts into actual prescriptions and revenue growth, while swiftly concluding ongoing negotiations for listings with major PBMs to broaden the growth foundation for our new products in the U.S. market.”

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