Celltrion’s blood cancer treatment Truxima (rituximab) has become the first Korean-developed biosimilar to achieve the top prescription market share in the United States, marking a significant milestone for the country’s biopharmaceutical industry.
According to pharmaceutical market research firm IQVIA, Truxima recorded a 35.8% share of prescriptions in the U.S. as of February, making it the most widely prescribed rituximab product. The achievement comes roughly six years after its U.S. launch in November 2019.
By surpassing both biosimilar and originator products from global pharmaceutical companies, Truxima has set a new benchmark as the first Korean biosimilar to rank No.1 in the U.S. market, underscoring the growing global competitiveness of Korea’s biotech and pharmaceutical sector.
The product’s strong market position is also reflected in its financial performance. Truxima generated more than 300 billion won in revenue in North America last year, representing a year-on-year increase of over 40% and solidifying its role as a key revenue driver for Celltrion.
Another flagship product, autoimmune disease treatment Inflectra (infliximab), continues to maintain the highest prescription share among biosimilars in the U.S. at 30.5%. Since its launch in 2016, Inflectra has consistently held a market share above 30%, demonstrating stable and sustained performance.
Meanwhile, Zymfentra (the U.S. brand name for Remsima SC) is also gaining traction, with prescription volumes more than tripling compared to the previous year, raising expectations for increased synergy across Celltrion’s product portfolio.
New product launches are also contributing to growth. Stekima (ustekinumab), introduced in March 2024 for autoimmune diseases, has rapidly established its presence in the U.S. market with a 10.2% share. Its inclusion as a preferred drug in formularies managed by major pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) has been cited as a key factor behind its early success.
In addition, Celltrion is expanding coverage for other products such as Aptozma (tocilizumab) and Stoboclo-Osenvellt (denosumab) through agreements with major U.S. PBMs. The company is also preparing to launch a subcutaneous (SC) formulation of Aptozma and Omriclo (omalizumab), further strengthening its high-margin product portfolio.
Celltrion said the achievement of Truxima’s No.1 position in the U.S. is expected to enhance product recognition and trust, while continued growth from both existing and newly launched products is likely to improve the company’s prospects for meeting its performance targets this year.
