Vegzelma, a biosimilar for metastatic colorectal and breast cancer treatment. [Celltrion]
Vegzelma, a biosimilar for metastatic colorectal and breast cancer treatment. [Celltrion]

Celltrion's biosimilar Vegzelma (bevacizumab), used to treat metastatic colorectal and breast cancer, has secured reimbursement footing in the United States after winning preferred drug status on the formularies of two major pharmacy benefit managers. The achievement comes as the product had already surpassed 10% market share through open-market sales alone, and is expected to accelerate its US penetration further.

Celltrion announced Tuesday that Vegzelma has been listed as a preferred drug on both the public and private insurance formularies of Express Scripts (ESI) — one of the three largest PBMs in the US — and on the public insurance formulary of another major PBM, Optum.

Reimbursement under ESI's public insurance and Optum formularies took effect July 1, while ESI's private insurance coverage is set to begin in January next year.

The three largest PBMs collectively account for roughly 80% of the US insurance market, giving them outsized influence over prescribing patterns. With these new listings, Vegzelma now has reimbursement coverage reaching more than 35% of the US insurance market.

According to market research firm IQVIA, Vegzelma recorded a US market share of approximately 10.6% in May, breaking into double digits for the first time since its launch. Celltrion's US subsidiary achieved this by focusing on the local bevacizumab "open market" — a channel that connects medical institutions directly with pharmaceutical companies. The formulary listings add a new reimbursement-driven growth engine on top of the momentum already built through open-market sales.

Other key Celltrion products are also performing well in the US. Stecyma (ustekinumab) and Yuflyma (adalimumab) posted US market shares of 13.3% and 8.1%, respectively, in May. Stecyma in particular ranked second in prescription volume among ustekinumab biosimilars in a crowded field of seven competing products, demonstrating the company's direct-sales competitiveness in the market.

Celltrion plans to sustain its US earnings growth in the second half through the launch of high-margin follow-on products. The company will introduce a subcutaneous formulation of Aptozma (tocilizumab), an autoimmune disease treatment, along with Omliclor (omalizumab) in the US during the second half of the year. Omliclor is expected to enter the US market as the first-mover biosimilar for omalizumab, positioning Celltrion to capture early market share.

"With Vegzelma now listed as a preferred drug on major US PBM formularies and reimbursement coverage secured, we expect prescription momentum to steepen considerably," a Celltrion official said. "We will continue negotiations with other major PBMs to build on this progress and expand our market presence in the United States."


silverpaper@heraldcorp.com