S.Korea's Celltrion Healthcare launches Vegzelma in US

South Korea's Celltrion Healthcare Co. on Monday said it launched on the US market Vegzelma, a biosimilar of Bevacizumab, a medication for colorectal and breast cancer sold under the name Avastin.

The company has prepared for the launch since September last year, when it received approval to sell Vegzelma from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Celltrion Healthcare said it completed inclusion of Vegzelma on the list of drugs reimbursable by public health insurance from the US federal government and sent its first shipment to major wholesalers.

In addition, the company is focused on expanding human resources in the US as Vegzelma is its first drug sold directly in the country. It hired Thomas Nusbickel, chief commercial officer of its incorporated company in America who previously worked for global pharmaceutical giants like Amgen and Pfizer.

"We plan to launch products sequentially in the US ranging from Uplima (active ingredient Adalimumab), which is scheduled for release in this year's second half, to Remsima SC, which is undergoing the approval process for a new drug," Celltrion Healthcare CEO Kim Hyoung-ki said.

Write to Jeong Min Nam at peux@hankyung.com