Celltrion, Rani Therapeutics to jointly develop oral version of Adalimumab

Home > Business > Industry

Celltrion, Rani Therapeutics to jointly develop oral version of Adalimumab

Published: 05 Jun. 2023, 16:00

Celltrion's Yuflyma [CELLTRION]

Celltrion signed an agreement with California-based Rani Therapeutics to jointly develop an oral version of Adalimumab as part of efforts to tap into the approximately $20-billion market.

This is the second partnership between the two companies since they signed an agreement to develop an oral version of Ustekinumab, a psoriasis treatment, in early January.

Under the agreement, Celltrion will provide Adalimumab to Rani Therapeutics so that the biotech company can develop an oral version. When developed, Celltrion will obtain a preferred sale right in global markets.

Rani Therapeutics's RaniPill platform technology orally delivers drugs previously delivered by injection.

Celltrion believes "diversification of the ways to treat patients" will "help increase its competitiveness in the global markets."

Adalimumab, better known as Humira, is used to treat autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. It generated global revenue of $21.2 billion in 2022, with some 87 percent of that revenue coming from the U.S. market. It had been the world’s best-selling drug for a decade until 2020, when it lost its throne to the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.

AbbVie, Humira's Illinois-based developer, held an exclusive grip on the market for two decades, earning nearly $200 billion from sales of the drug during that period.

Celltrion's Yuflyma, a biosimilar of Humira, was approved for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]