LG Chem and Samsung Bioepis's biosimilars are reimbursed

LG Chem’s Humira biosimilar and Samsung Biologics’ Stelara biosimilar are listed for reimbursement

Price of Xelenka Autoinjector Inj is set at KRW 220,389…KRW 20,000 to KRW 60,000 cheaper than its competitors

Price of EpyztekPrefilled Inj is set at KRW 1,290,000… KRW 900,000 cheaper than the original drug

LG Chem and Samsung Bioepis’ biosimilar products will be listed for reimbursement in July.

 

LG Chem is launching a biosimilar of the autoimmune disease treatment Humira, and Samsung Bioepis is launching a biosimilar of Stelara.

 

Both are aiming to list at the lowest price to compete with their respective original products.

 

According to industry sources on the 23rd, LG Chem's Humira biosimilar Xelenka Autoinjector Inj 40mg/0.4L and Xelenka Prefilled Syringe Inj 40mg/0.4mL will be listed at KRW 220,390 from month.

 

Samsung Bioepis' Stelara biosimilars Epyztek Prefilled Inj and Epyztek Intravenous Inj will also be listed the same month at KRW 1,292,890 and KRW 1,355,393, respectively.

 

These are the first Stelara biosimilars to be reimbursed in Korea.

 

Humira is a TNF-a inhibitor used for 13 autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and adult Crohn's disease.

 

The drug confirmed an effect in various diseases through its mechanism of action that inhibits TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), which affects immune diseases.

 

As of last year, its sales amounted to KRW 86.6 billion based on IQVIA.

 

The domestic market for Humira biosimilars opened in earnest with Samsung Bioepis launching Adaloce with reimbursement in May 2021 and Celltrion launching Yuflyma in March 2022.   According to IQVIA sales, Adaloce sold KRW 13.1 billion and Yuflyma sold KRW 1.8 billion last year.

 

Sales of the biosimilars are fiercely chasing the original.

 

LG Chem’s Xelenka was approved in December last year.

 

It took 7 months for the drug to be listed for reimbursement after approval.

 

Like other biosimilars, it is a high-concentration formulation that offers improved patient convenience.

 

As a latecomer to the market, the company also paid attention to the price of Xelenka.

 

Currently, for the 40mg/0.4mL dose, the original Humira is priced at KRW 280,891, and the biosimilars Adaloce and Yuflyma at KRW 248,877.

 

LG Chem’s Xelenka is priced lower than these and will be listed at KRW 223,900.

 

It is about KRW 20,000 cheaper than other biosimilars and KRW 60,000 cheaper than the original.

 

Samsung Bioepis, the first company to introduce a Stelara biosimilar, also significantly reduced its product’s price from the estimated price.

 

While biosimilars are usually priced at 80 percent of the original, Samsung Bioepis’s product will be listed at 50 to 60% of the original price.

 

Stelara Prefilled Syringe Inj is priced at KRW 2,182,000, while Epyztek Prefilled Inj is priced at about KRW 900,000 cheaper at KRW 1,298,290.

 

Also, when comparing the IV injection versions, Stelara IV Inj is priced at KRW 2,261,500, compared with EpyztekIV, which is priced at KRW 1,345,593.

 

Stelara generated sales of KRW 47.4 billion last year based on IQVIA.

 

Stelara is indicated and reimbursed for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older, active psoriatic arthritis in adults, active Crohn's disease in adults, and moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis in adults.

 

Following Samsung Bioepis’s footsteps, Celltrion received approval for Steqeyma PFS on March 12.

 

Samsung Bioepis is believed to have adopted a lowest-price strategy to occupy the market before Celltrion's product is listed.

 

Biosimilars are products approved after demonstrating equivalence and effectiveness to the original product.

 

As biosimilar companies sell their products at a significantly reduced price compared with the original product, the financial burden borne by patients is greatly reduced upon the introduction of biosimilars.