Celltrion said on the 28th that prescriptions in the United States for Zymfentra, a treatment for autoimmune diseases, have surged this year.
According to IQVIA, as of the second week of January, prescriptions for Zymfentra rose 27% from the same period a month earlier. Compared with the same period a year earlier, they increased 352%.
Zymfentra is the subcutaneous injection formulation of Remsima, a treatment for autoimmune diseases, and was introduced in the United States in Mar. 2024. The company said it recorded the highest weekly prescription level confirmed since the U.S. launch.
Celltrion ran online and offline ads targeting the general public and medical institutions. Securing the basis for Zymfentra rebates also contributed to expanding prescriptions. Since the launch of Zymfentra, Celltrion's U.S. subsidiary has continued negotiations with the three major pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), small and midsize PBMs, and insurers, securing most of the market where rebates are available. This reduced the expense burden for Zymfentra administration.
Zymfentra was listed as a preferred drug in the formulary of Evernorth Health Services under the U.S. Cigna Group. Cigna Group operates Cigna Healthcare, one of the top 10 companies in the insurance industry. With the Evernorth Health Services listing, policyholders under Cigna affiliates can receive prescriptions for Zymfentra without complicated administrative procedures.
Celltrion expects Zymfentra's growth to enter full swing this year and plans to ramp up marketing. It plans to promote that it is effective in treating inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
A Celltrion official said, "Prescriptions for Zymfentra in the new year increased more than 4.5 times from the same period a year earlier," adding, "We will focus our capabilities so that Zymfentra can be prescribed to U.S. patients with autoimmune diseases."