Celltrion is rapidly strengthening its presence in Spain and Portugal, securing a series of government and regional tenders while expanding sales and marketing activities to drive prescriptions and product supply across the two European markets.
In Spain, one of the EU’s five largest pharmaceutical markets, Celltrion’s omalizumab biosimilar Omlyclo has gained a strong foothold in the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria and allergic asthma. Celltrion Spain was selected as a supplier in government tenders held in four major regions — Catalonia, the Basque Country, Asturias and Valencia — during the first half of the year.
The company estimates that Omlyclo’s market share in Spain exceeded 90% as of June, supported by growing prescriptions at individual hospitals as well as regional tender wins.
Celltrion attributed the rapid uptake to Omlyclo’s product advantages and its direct-sales strategy tailored to the Spanish market. Omlyclo offers a 150mg autoinjector formulation that is not available with the originator product, along with a longer shelf life and stability data supporting storage at room temperature.
Celltrion Spain has been highlighting these features in sales and marketing activities targeting key healthcare professionals and pharmacy stakeholders, while also emphasizing the potential healthcare cost savings associated with biosimilar adoption.
Celltrion’s Actemra biosimilar Aptozma, whose active ingredient is tocilizumab, is also expanding its presence in Spain. The product has been selected in tenders organized by INGESA, an agency under Spain’s Ministry of Health, as well as regional government tenders. Aptozma had secured more than half of the Spanish market as of the second quarter, according to the company.
The launch of a 400mg formulation, which is not available for the originator product, has also helped Celltrion differentiate Aptozma in the Spanish market.
Celltrion has achieved similar tender successes in neighboring Portugal. During national tenders held in the first half of the year, all of its autoimmune disease treatments — including Remsima, the infliximab biosimilar; Yuflyma, an adalimumab biosimilar; and Steqeyma, a ustekinumab biosimilar — were selected as winning products.
Supply of the products began in the first half and is scheduled to continue through the second half of the year. Omlyclo and Eydenzelt, an aflibercept biosimilar for ophthalmic diseases, also won the Portuguese tenders, demonstrating Celltrion’s expanding competitiveness beyond the autoimmune disease segment.
Kang Seok-hoon, head of Celltrion Spain, said the company expects sales growth to accelerate in the second half of the year as supply of its newly launched products expands.
“We will strengthen marketing activities targeting key stakeholders and further solidify our market position by leveraging Celltrion’s differentiated products and direct-sales capabilities,” Kang said.
