Celltrion's autoimmune disease biosimilar lands in S. Korea

▲ This image, provided by South Korean pharmaceutical giant Celltrion Inc., shows its biosimilar Yuflyma (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Celltrion-S Korea sales

Celltrion's autoimmune disease biosimilar lands in S. Korea

By Kim Han-joo

SEOUL, March 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean pharmaceutical giant Celltrion Inc. said Wednesday that its autoimmune disease biosimilar Yuflyma has begun sales in the domestic market.

Yuflyma -- a biosimilar referencing blockbuster drug Humira by AbbVie Inc. -- is used to treat patients with multiple chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

The high-concentration biosimilar is already being marketed in major European countries following its approval from drug authorities last year.

Yuflyma requires only half the solution administered to patients compared with the existing Humira biosimilar and is also citrate-free, which lessens discomfort during injection, Celltrion said.

Yuflyma is priced at around 245,000 won (US$203) per dose in South Korea, which is similar to other biosimilars of Humira, but patients with cancer or other kinds of rare diseases will only pay one-tenth of the cost.

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