Samil Pharmaceutical said on the 27th that Aphilivu (ingredient name Aflibercept), a treatment for macular degeneration, recorded cumulative sales of 1.6 billion won just two months after sales resumed.
Aphilivu is a product developed by Samsung Bioepis as a biosimilar to Eylea. Samil Pharmaceutical has exclusive domestic distribution and sales. Sales were halted early last year after a preliminary injunction was granted due to a patent dispute with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, but domestic distribution normalized last month after a court decision to cancel the injunction.
A company official said, "Sales have recovered faster than expected after Aphilivu sales resumed," and added, "With the launch of the prefilled syringe (a product with the drug preloaded in a syringe) type, prescription expansion will accelerate further."
Samsung Bioepis has developed a prefilled syringe type of Aphilivu and plans to introduce it in the domestic market through Samil Pharmaceutical as early as the first quarter.