Celltrion Healthcare launches anti-cancer biosimilar Vegzelma in Japan

Celltrion Healthcare Co. Ltd. said on Thursday that it launched Vegzelma, a biosimilar to the anti-cancer drug Avastin (active ingredient: bevacizumab) in Japan.

In September last year, Vegzelma obtained marketing approval for metastatic colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and metastatic breast cancer from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Celltrion Healthcare explained that Vegzelma is expected to enter the Japanese market without any problem as the nation's government runs a kind of comprehensive fee-for-service scheme under which it determines the cost of treatment for cancers treatable by the drug.

In addition, given the company is already selling Herzuma, an anti-cancer biosimilar, in Japan, it will be able to generate more prescriptions based on its experience and know-how.

"In Japan, interest in biosimilars that can alleviate the government’s financial burden is increasing as the population aging accelerates. The condition is ripe for the newly launched Vegzelma to easily establish itself in the Japanese market," said a company official.

Write to Jae-Young Han at jyhan@hankyung.com