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| Celltrion Plant 1 |
[의학신문·일간보사=안치영 기자] Celltrion showed the highest performance since its inception last year.
Celltrion announced on the 22nd that it recorded 1,8491 trillion won in sales, 7121 billion won in operating profit, and 38.5% operating profit margin in 2020 through the company’s business performance disclosure.
According to the company, sales increased by 63.9% and operating profit by 88.4% compared to the previous year, achieving the highest performance ever since the previous year.
In the case of the fourth quarter of last year, sales increased by 30.3% and operating profit by 44.3% compared to the same period last year, with sales of 4987 billion won and operating profit of 16.4 billion won.
Celltrion explained that last year, the expansion of the biosimilar product line resulted in an increase in supply and improvement in production efficiency at the expansion facility of the first plant.
The flagship product line maintained a solid market share in the European market with Remsima 52.8%, Truxima 38%, and Herzuma 15.9% as of the third quarter of last year.In the US market, Inflectra (Remsima US export name) 11.8% and Truxima 19.8%.
Celltrion focuses on developing biosimilars and expanding the license for’Recyrona
Celltrion plans to expand the development of a follow-up biosimilar this year, expand the global license for the Corona 19 antibody treatment’Rekkirona’, accelerate penetration of the Remsima SC market, and increase production through the establishment of a 3rd plant.
In February of this year, Celltrion obtained approval from the European Commission (EC) for sale of’U Plaima (CT-P17)’, a high-concentration Humira biosimilar, and secured an additional competitive product line.
In addition, CT-P16 (Avastin biosimilar), CT-P39 (Xolair biosimilar), CT-P41 (Prolia biosimilar), CT-P42 (Ilia biosimilar), which are undergoing global clinical phase 3 ), CT-P43 (Stellara biosimilar), and other subsequent biosimilar developments will be expanded to obtain more than one product license every year by 2030.
Celltrion obtained conditional approval for Rekirona, a COVID-19 antibody treatment from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in February this year, and plans to obtain approval within the first half of the year by proceeding with emergency use approval and conditional approval in the US and Europe.
In addition, it has completed the production of therapeutics for 100,000 domestic patients, and plans to produce 1.5 to 3 million additional patients annually depending on demand.
In addition, in order to cope with the mutant virus that may occur in the future, it spurred the establishment of a mutant response platform, and at the same time began developing a cocktail treatment that combines Rekkirona with candidate antibody No. 32, which showed neutralizing ability in British and South African mutants.
In addition, Remsima SC, the next-generation growth engine, is actively promoting entry into the North American market, the world’s largest pharmaceutical market, by acquiring approval for sales in Canada in February this year.
Infliximab Subcutaneous Injection Formulation Remsima SC, an autoimmune disease treatment agent, has changed the formulation from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) so that patients can inject directly at the desired location without visiting the hospital. Treatment convenience was greatly improved.
In addition, Celltrion plans to make efforts to secure stable production by commencing construction of the 3rd factory and the Global Biotechnology Research Center, which started construction in the Songdo New Town in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon in November last year.
The 3rd Celltrion Plant is scheduled to be completed in May 2023 and the Research Center in July 2022. The third plant is expected to start commercial production from June 2024, and upon completion, Celltrion is expected to secure a production facility with a total annual output of 250,000 liters in addition to the existing 190,000 liters of the first and second plants.
An official from Celltrion said, “Even in the corona 19 pandemic situation last year, major product lines were able to grow evenly and maintain the highest performance in history.” “This year, efforts to globally supply COVID-19 antibody treatments and Humira biosimilar U Plaima (CT-P17) As the follow-up biosimilar development and new supply are in full swing, we will continue to grow as a global biotechnology company.”