Celltrion announced on Monday that Zymentra, its subcutaneous infliximab treatment (marketed as Remsima SC in the U.S.), has been added to the preferred drug list in the formulary of Evernorth Health Services, a healthcare subsidiary of the major U.S. healthcare conglomerate Cigna Group.
Cigna is a prominent player in the U.S. healthcare sector, operating Express Scripts, one of the top three pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and Cigna Healthcare, which ranks among the nation’s leading insurance providers. This positions Cigna as a powerhouse in the broader healthcare market.
Following Zymentra’s launch, Celltrion’s U.S. division successfully negotiated a contract with ESI to secure preferred drug status. The recent Evernorth listing builds on this achievement, enabling Cigna members to access Zymentra prescriptions without navigating complex administrative hurdles.
Since its U.S. debut in 2024, Zymentra has shown robust growth, with prescription rates increasing by an average of 31% monthly. As of December last year, prescription volumes from hospitals and other institutions had skyrocketed nearly fivefold compared to the same period in the previous year, fueling optimism about Zymentra’s market potential.
Industry analysts attribute this impressive growth to Celltrion’s strategic contracts with key reimbursement channels, including major PBMs and insurance providers. This approach has allowed Zymentra to achieve over 90% coverage in the U.S. reimbursement market, establishing a solid foundation for sustained prescription growth.
In addition to Zymentra, Celltrion’s flagship autoimmune disease treatment, Inflectra (marketed as Remsima in the U.S.), has also secured a spot on the formulary of UnitedHealth Group, a major U.S. insurer, further bolstering the company’s market position.
As Celltrion’s key products gain traction, other products in the company’s U.S. portfolio are expected to benefit from the positive momentum. Notably, STEQEYMA (ustekinumab) and Aptozma (tocilizumab), both launched in the U.S. last year, stand to leverage marketing synergies as treatments for autoimmune diseases.
A Celltrion spokesperson commented that with both Zymentra and Inflectra now included in the formularies of major U.S. insurers, we’ve successfully established a strong reimbursement foundation. Given the competitiveness of the products and growing prescription preferences, it anticipates a significant uptick in sales. It is intensifying the marketing efforts to swiftly capture a larger share of the U.S. autoimmune disease market.