Celltrion Pharm said Monday that the company recorded 90 billion won ($67 million) in sales, 9.6 billion won in operating profit, and 6.7 billion won in net profit in the first quarter, releasing in its provisional performance report.

Celltrion Pharm’s 1st quarter sales marked the highest level in its history but grew only 1.4 percent year to year.

Its operating profit and net profit rose by 23.1 percent and 36.1 percent.

The company explained that its hepatic drug Godex Cap recorded sales of 15 billion won or higher, and diabetes treatment Nesina Tab (alogliptin benzoate) and Actos (pioglitazone hydrochloride), and hypertension therapy Edarbi Tab (azilsartan medoxomi potassium) also recorded continuous sales to lead its growth.

Celltrion Pharm also plans to localize major products that it took over from Takeda Pharma, such as Nesina and Edarbi. It will focus on developing incremental new drugs with higher administrative convenience to strengthen its competitive edge in diabetes and hypertension treatment markets.

In the biopharmaceutical sector, the combined sales of Remicade biosimilar Remsima (infliximab), Herceptin biosimilar Herzuma (trastuzumab), and Rituxan-Mabthera biosimilar Truxima (rituximab) totaled 15.8 billion won.

Celltrion Pharm noted that Remsia and Herzema accounted for 30 percent or more of the domestic market, and Truxima recently took the 22 percent share, continuing its growth curve. It added that Humira biosimilar Yuflyma (adalimumab) and Avastin biosimilar Vegzelma (bevacizumab), released in the domestic market last year, will provide additional momentum this year.

“In the first quarter, we could attain the record-high quarterly sales amid stable growth as primary products in both chemical and biopharmaceutical divisions,” a company official said. “We will continue to strive in the remainder of the year to expand major products’ market share and find additional growth momentum.”