Celltrion Healthcare's Herzuma selected as funded brand in NZ

Celltrion Healthcare Co. announced on Thursday that its biosimilar anticancer drug Herzuma (active ingredient trastuzumab) for breast and gastric cancer treatment was selected as the funded brand in New Zealand, beating its original medicine Herceptin.

New Zealand's Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe) proclaimed the change of the supported trastuzumab medicine from the existing original drug Herceptin to Herzuma.

The support period is from Dec. 1, 2023, to May 31, 2027, totaling three years and six months. The support amount is set at $100 per vial for Herzuma 150 mg and $293.35 per vial for Herzuma 440 mg.

Patients currently receiving treatment with the original product Herceptin must switch to Herzuma by May 31, 2024, to avail themselves of the subsidy benefits.

Celltrion Healthcare explained that the strong commitment of the New Zealand government to delivering highly effective biosimilar drugs to more patients has influenced this outcome.

Medsafe, on its official website, described the decision as aligning with the interests of New Zealanders, securing a substantial amount of funds through the change in supported items.

Medsafe emphasized the active role of doctors prescribing trastuzumab in ensuring a smooth transition from the original to Herzuma, recommending communication with patients to facilitate the process.

It is also meaningful that the supported conditions have expanded as well. The original product received subsidy support only for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer from 2005. With the latest change to Herzuma, the supported scope has expanded to include local advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal cancer.

With this achievement as a stepping stone, Celltrion Healthcare plans to enhance marketing activities to expand the prescription of Herzuma in New Zealand. 

Write to Jeong Min Nam at peux@hankyung.com