Celltrion's Remsima Overtakes Original Drug in Japan, Claiming No. 1 Spot With 48% Market Share

A South Korean biosimilar, Celltrion's Remsima, has surged ahead of its original reference drug in Japan's autoimmune disease treatment market, capturing 48% of the market share in July. This achievement is particularly impressive, given Japan's historically cautious pharmaceutical sector. Celltrion's oncology biosimilars Herzuma and Vegzelma have also made significant strides in Japan, claiming 78% and 64% market shares, respectively.

Celltrion's influence extends beyond Japan into Asia. As of the first quarter of 2026, Remsima leads in Singapore (93%), Hong Kong (84%), Thailand (78%) and Malaysia (72%). The company has also experienced substantial growth in Latin America, with Remsima holding approximately 60% of the private market in Brazil. In Costa Rica, both Remsima and its counterpart, Truxima, enjoy near-100% market shares.

The company's global expansion strategy, which includes a robust direct sales infrastructure across 43 countries, appears to be paying off. Celltrion currently employs approximately 25% of its overseas workforce in high-growth regions like Asia and Latin America. This has translated into strong financial performance, with the company reporting preliminary third-quarter revenue of 1.5 trillion won and operating profit of 510 billion won.

Looking ahead, Celltrion plans to leverage its established local sales networks to accelerate the launch of higher-margin follow-on products. In Japan, the intravenous formulation of Steqeyma was recently introduced, with the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of Remsima expected in 2027. The company also intends to diversify its product portfolio in Thailand through the launch of Omlyclo and Stoboclo-Osenvelt, and plans to expand in Malaysia, Singapore, and Latin America.

Celltrion's ultimate goal is to accelerate new product launches in Asia and Latin America to diversify its global growth drivers.