Celltrion’s Vegzelma listed on prescription of 10 private US insurers

South Korea’s Celltrion Healthcare Co. announced on Wednesday that it has signed contracts with 10 insurance providers in the US to boost the prescription of Vegzelma (active ingredient: bevacizumab), a biosimilar to the anti-cancer drug Avastin. 
This move could make the drug accessible to nearly a third of the US population. One of the 10 insurers is in the nation's top five.  

“We are in favorable negotiations with other insurance providers, and we are actively ramping up commercial activities to achieve coverage for over 60% of the US population by early next year,” a Celltrion Healthcare source said.

Celltrion Healthcare has been investing in a targeted commercial strategy this year, enhancing its direct sales capabilities in the US through the recruitment of specialized personnel. In addition, the company is building key relationships with influential stakeholders in the US healthcare market, including insurance companies and group purchasing organizations (GPOs).

This expanding sales network will also serve as a springboard for future products. Notably, the company has its eyes set on Zymfentra, the name of RemsimaSC in the US, which contains infliximab as an active ingredient and is currently under the US approval process.

Write to Dae-Kyu Ahn at powerzanic@hankyung.com