Celltrion Healthcare said Tuesday that the company has launched its anticancer antibody biosimilar Herzuma in the United States through its North American partner, Teva.

Teva is a multinational pharmaceutical company with an anticancer drug distribution network and sales know-how in the region. The company also launched Celltrion's Truxima, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) biosimilar, which treats certain autoimmune diseases and some types of cancer, in the U.S. in November.

Celltrion plans to use the same distribution channel as those of Truxima and Bendeka, to supply Herzuma more rapidly and reliably in the U.S. market.

The company will expand Herzuma's U.S. prescriptions by strengthening communication with key stakeholders, such as immune-oncology doctors, to create synergic effects with Truxima.

The North American trastuzumab market is the largest in the world by accounting for half of the total global sales, prompting various pharmaceutical companies to compete there for the lion’s share of the market, the company said.

Celltrion expects its product will be competitive enough in the U.S. market as the biosimilar has dominated other markets compared to other biosimilars, as shown in the company’s records of prescription data.

Celltrion and Teva plan to supply Herzuma in the U.S. at a 10 percent discount from the original product's wholesale acquisition cost (WAC).

However, the company stressed that the actual sales price is different from the suggested WAC price, as additional rebates and discounts must be considered, and the patient's co-pay for Herzuma may vary depending on the type of insurers and support programs.

"We are pleased that the launch of Herzuma will provide new treatment opportunities for American patients suffering from breast and stomach cancer," said Brendan O'Grady, Teva's executive vice president for North America. "The company expects that the medical burden on patients will be eased through the drug and will provide a broader range of treatment opportunities for more American patients.

Celltrion Healthcare CEO Kim Hyoung-ki also said, "With the launch of the Herzuma, all three of our flagship biosimilars will be sold in the United States, which is the world's largest pharmaceutical market."

Since Truxima has recorded remarkable growth since the beginning of its U.S. launch, we will also focus on successfully establishing Herzuma in the U.S. market, Kim added.