Exclusive seminar for 400 medical professionals at WAC 2026

World's first omalizumab biosimilar reinforces first-mover status

Direct-sales synergy with Remsima to drive global expansion

Celltrion's Global Biotechnology Research Center. [Celltrion]
Celltrion's Global Biotechnology Research Center. [Celltrion]

Celltrion is moving to capture Japan's allergy treatment market, deploying Omryklo — the world's first omalizumab biosimilar — as its lead product in one of Asia's most important pharmaceutical markets.

The company announced Tuesday that it will participate in the World Allergy Congress (WAC 2026), held Thursday through Sunday at the Kyoto International Conference Center in Japan, to showcase the clinical evidence and competitive strengths of Omryklo (development code CT-P39; Japanese product name: omalizumab BS CT).

WAC is a prestigious global academic conference organized by the World Allergy Organization (WAO). This year's edition is being held as a joint congress — the JSA/WAO/APAPARI Joint Congress 2026 — co-hosted by the Japanese Society of Allergology (JSA) and the Asia Pacific Association of Pediatric Allergy, Respirology and Immunology (APAPARI), drawing more than 7,000 specialists from around the world.

The event is expected to serve as a strategic milestone for Celltrion to establish Omryklo's clinical value and first-mover credentials among leading global allergy researchers and medical professionals.

Celltrion will operate a dedicated exhibition booth to promote Omryklo's clinical data and global production capabilities ahead of its Japanese launch, aiming to build prescriber confidence. Omryklo received regulatory approval in Japan in March for bronchial asthma, chronic idiopathic urticaria and seasonal allergic rhinitis, and the company is preparing for a first-mover launch following the completion of drug pricing registration.

On Friday, the second day of the conference, Celltrion will host an exclusive academic seminar for about 400 local medical professionals. The seminar, themed "Expanding treatment options through biosimilars: the future of asthma and allergic rhinitis treatment," will feature clinical experience sharing from practitioners, with Okubo Kimihiro, professor emeritus at Nippon Medical School, serving as moderator.

Celltrion plans to leverage its existing direct-sales infrastructure alongside Omryklo's product strengths to accelerate the biosimilar's market penetration in Japan. According to IQVIA, as of July, Remsima (infliximab), Celltrion's autoimmune disease treatment, held a 48 percent market share in Japan — surpassing the originator drug — while Yuflyma (adalimumab) stood at 21 percent. Herzuma (trastuzumab), an anticancer drug, maintained a 78 percent share, and Vegzelma (bevacizumab) held 64 percent.

Omryklo's global momentum is also building. Launched in Europe in September last year, the product captured a 21 percent share in Europe as of the first quarter of this year. Global sales of Omryklo in the first half of this year reached 188.4 billion won ($141 million), and Celltrion aims to accelerate earnings growth by following its US market launch on Monday with this entry into Japan.

"This global joint academic congress will serve as an important milestone in making allergy specialists and medical professionals around the world aware of Omryklo's superior therapeutic efficacy and its competitiveness as a first mover," a Celltrion official said. "Building on the solid trust and direct-sales infrastructure that Remsima, Herzuma and other products have established in Japan, we will do our utmost to help Omryklo secure a leading position in Japan's allergy treatment market at the earliest opportunity."


silverpaper@heraldcorp.com