Celltrion applies for approval to sell cancer drug in Japan
Published: 12 Apr. 2017, 20:36
Biosimilar refers to an almost identical copy of a product produced by a different company. Herzuma is a biosimilar version of trastuzumab, known by its brand name Herceptin. Swiss drug firm Roche held the patent for Herceptin.
Herzuma is the second biosimilar product the Songdo, Incheon-based Celltrion has received approval for in Korea.
The market for the original Herceptin is estimated at 450 billion won ($394.3 million) in Japan and Celltrion hopes o launch the biosimilar version next year.
Celltrion’s Japanese distribution partner Nippo Kayaku acquired the sales rights for Herzuma and its top-selling rheumatoid arthritis biosimilar Remsima in 2010. The latter has been selling in Japan since 2014.
By Seo Ji-eun
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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