Celltrion announced on Tuesday that its autoimmune disease treatment, Remsima (infliximab), has surpassed 1 trillion KRW (about 686 million USD) in annual sales for the second consecutive year.
Last year, Remsima generated global sales of approximately 1.495 trillion KRW (about 1.03 billion USD), marking its second straight year of exceeding the 1 trillion KRW (about 686 million USD) threshold. This year’s success is attributed to stable prescription rates worldwide and the expansion of the infliximab market in Europe.
The growth of the European infliximab market played a particularly positive role in boosting sales. According to IQVIA, the market recorded an average annual growth rate of about 9% from 2019 to 2024.
This increase is largely due to the rising demand for subcutaneous injection (SC) formulations, which allow for easy self-administration at home. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend, leading to a significant expansion in Remsima SC prescriptions.
Remsima has shown impressive market penetration across Europe. As of Q3 last year, it captured 62% of the market in the UK, 49% in Spain, and 48% in Germany among the EU5 countries. It also achieved remarkable shares in other European nations, including 75% in Ireland and 64% in Austria.
Remsima is set to gain another competitive edge this year with the introduction of a new liquid formulation. This version can slash preparation time by over 50% compared to the freeze-dried form and reduce labor and material costs by about 20%.
Moreover, the liquid formulation eliminates the need for specialized freezer storage, potentially cutting storage costs by up to 70%.
While Remsima maintains its status as Korea’s first global blockbuster drug, industry experts predict that Remsima SC will soon claim the title of the country’s second blockbuster. Last year, Remsima SC’s global sales reached approximately 839.4 billion KRW (about 576 million USD), a nearly 40% increase from the previous year.
A Celltrion spokesperson commented that the liquid formulation has generated significant buzz in European medical circles even before its launch. Following Remsima’s success, it is committed to aggressive global marketing to establish Remsima SC as Korea’s next blockbuster drug.