Celltrion's Ramcima tops Japan's infliximab market for first time, overtaking originator

Celltrion's flagship autoimmune treatment Ramcima (infliximab) has claimed the top spot in Japan's infliximab prescription market, overtaking the originator drug in a market long known for its high barriers to entry.

Citing data from IQVIA and local tracking figures, Celltrion said Thursday that Ramcima captured a 48 percent share of the Japanese market in July — its first time at the top, roughly 11 years after its local debut in April 2015.

Japan's autoimmune disease market is structurally challenging for biosimilars: the country's drug pricing system leaves little difference in patient co-payments between originator and biosimilar products, meaning clinical data credibility and distribution network strength — rather than price alone — are the decisive factors driving prescriptions.

Celltrion initially partnered with local pharmaceutical company Nippon Kayaku as its distribution partner to establish a foothold, then from late 2017 began running a dual-track strategy — combining the existing partnership with direct sales through its own Japanese subsidiary — to significantly broaden its prescriber base.

The company also expects synergies from its broader autoimmune pipeline in Japan. Alongside Ramcima, Celltrion markets four products in the country: Yuflyma (adalimumab), which holds a 21 percent share and leads among biosimilars; Aptozma (tocilizumab); and Steqeyma (ustekinumab). Given the overlap in target diseases and local physician networks, the company plans to step up cross-marketing efforts. It is also pursuing the 2027 launch of Ramcima SC, a subcutaneous formulation designed for greater dosing convenience, to drive further growth.

Celltrion's oncology biosimilar portfolio is also holding firm at the top. Herzuma (trastuzumab), used to treat breast and gastric cancer, commands a 78 percent share in Japan, while Vegzelma (bevacizumab), indicated for colorectal and lung cancer, holds 64 percent.

Ramcima's rise to first place is a landmark achievement — one that reshaped market dynamics in a pharmaceutical environment where originator preference had been particularly entrenched due to limited price-reduction incentives, built on locally tailored distribution infrastructure and accumulated clinical credibility.

"Reaching No. 1 after 11 years on the market is the result of a strategy calibrated to Japan's market conditions, combined with the expertise we have built up over time," said Kim Ho-woong, executive vice president of Celltrion's global sales division. "Once Ramcima SC launches, the Ramcima product line will gain an even stronger growth momentum."