Celltrion begins sales of biosimilar Herzuma in U.K.

An affiliate of Korean biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion said Thursday that its breast cancer biosimilar has begun selling in the United Kingdom following approval from Europe’s regulatory body.

Celltrion Healthcare, which handles Celltrion’s overseas business, said Herzuma, a drug based on Herceptin, is now available in the European country.

Herceptin was originally developed by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche Holding.

Herzuma will be launched in other European Union markets, including Germany and Italy, by the end of the second quarter, Celltrion Healthcare said.

In February, the European Medicines Agency approved the sale of Herzuma for the treatment of people who tested positive during the early stages of breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer and metastatic gastric cancer in adults.

Herzuma is the third biosimilar by Celltrion to be sold in the European market. It is already selling Remsima, the first biosimilar monoclonal antibody, and Truxima, the first biosimilar monoclonal antibody for the treatment of cancer.

Annual global sales of the mega-hit Herceptin stand at 8.1 trillion won ($7.1 billion), with the European market estimated to be worth 2.4 trillion won.

Yonhap